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a " CONTAINING: THE MOST STRIKING AND ADMIRED : 


PASSAGES IN THE WORKS a 


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“OB THAT jJUSTLY CELEBRATED 
DIVINE, PHILOSOPHER, MORALIST, AND PORT: 


EQUALLY CALCULATED FOR THE COMMUNICATION OF 
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POLITE AND USEFUL epon teas i 


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AND THe INCREASE OF . > site 
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‘WISDOM AND HAPPINESS. 


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wa———=TO WHICH IS ADDED——_ 


; tHe L TE Ror THE AUTHOR. : ae 


4 Paiwrep ar MEWRURYPORT, sae ire NE ss 
EDMUND M. BLUNT, anes es Nes 
MA THEW CAREY, Philadpbian septs 
Ta fis oS 


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‘V4 = aed My? Es. | 
We 7 TS 

Cc O° N. T Om N i S. 

: Page’ 
; A, 
Or Fixing the Attention, 85 
_ Adoration of the Almighty, 89 
Abfence from God, - Too 
Expediency of gaining the AffeGtions ‘ 
_ of Men, 116 
-On Argument, 122 
_ Advice to a Young Man, — 125 
Againft indulging the Angry Paffions, 132 
Gentlenefs of Addrefs, 142 
On Parental Authority, ~~ = - 144 
Advice to AUS 146 
Rules for moderating Anger, * a BRS 
ae 


Benevolence and Complacence, 
Some Parts of the Bible not to be read 


by Children, 15. 
Bills of Exchange Spiritualized, AS 
C. ee 
The Bounty of the Creator, 32 
The Church-yard, 185 
Contempt of the trifles of this World, 42. _ 
Benevolence of the Creator, “8. 
Converfation, 69: 
- Benefit of converfing with Men of dif ~~ 
ferent Parties, &c. 78° 


274979 


CONT Se 


‘Page 
To. age Converfation iitriineg 49 
Rules for correcting Credulity and Con- 


» “tradition, 96 
The Influence er Cuftom, o7 
Cariofity to be encouraged in ‘Young 

Perfons, Spe: pee ta 


On improper Cutiofi ity, seis eee F- gs 
Cruelty in Children not to be éneourag 4, Bl 
Charitable Judgment of our Fel sat 

creatures recommended, © wf “A128 


‘The ‘Church- ~yard, ae Oe 
A Thought on Death, . cia 39 
Profpect « of Death, - if fk eye 
_ Dogmatiim cenfured, 3th 2 Nay 
Againit hafty Determinations, Pv: Ba 
Difputation, Pe 6] . 83. 
Acadenvical Difputations, —_— 
Oppofite Duties, a: tod 
Academical Difputes apt to prejudice 
. the Mind, : 105 
Decency, 109 
 RefleCting upon Death rccaiicene 159 
_ Dancing Affemblies, 165 
“FS E. On ay SRE 
Excetlehties and Defeds, =) hitteshingg 
. Eloquence, © 1.22 ES Se 4S a, 
‘Entrance upon the W orld, 4 Udahy inde 
Ancientjahd moderh Education,-> REY = 


Extremes to be avoidédin: Education: 181 of 


“oN TE MT Ss. ud 


Page 
Ret: Pi a) oe 
Fear, 74. 
Unreafonable Fear, e ca hE, 

The invifible Nature of God, a me 
_ Praife of God, hr 8 
Grace at Meals, ee. | 
Truft in the Son of God, “AL 
Perfe€tion of the Gofpel, Ta pel Ad. 
Gradual Progrefs of the Gofpel, - > 119 

- Advice with refpe& to © preaching fc Fae 
Gofpel, 114 
Gaming, a 161 

~ Guilt and Innocence, 187 
rere of Guilt and Punifhmtent,. 200 
The Man of Humility, er eee 
Leffon of Humility,” Re Ge 
Hiatred of our Fellow-Creatures reproved, 72 
Degeneraty of Fontan Nature,.. 199 
I. eae 

Idolatry, ; os 2e 

Ideas, Dire&tions concerning them, 29 

Arrangement of our Ideas,. ee, nn ee 
Verbal Inftruction, : bes Met 
Erroneous Judgrnens ey 3 

: — , 7 
Ohediesce: to the Laws,. BLES | 
Religious 5 | aE ee ia ae Th pds 
. a A 2 ; <4 . cz 


274979 


v1 CONTENTS. 


Page 
‘Acca and Modern Language con- — 

trafted, Part 

‘The Study of Mankind, . _. i! 

Spiritaal and Animal Exiftence of Man, 2.4 

Meditation, 63 

That the Support of Minifters ‘thoutd 
be provided for, Sb aay ae 

The Duty of Minifters, — str ee 


The Defign of our Saviour’s Miniftry, 113° 
Of Strengthening. the Memory of Chii- 


dren, 148 
oO. rye 

Superficial Obfervers, ; 30: 
Obfervation, pits 64. 
Orthodoxy and Chriftianity 4) 11s 
f FB 
Paffions influenced by different ike vat 

tions in Life, 3! 
To fubdue Pride, ng? 236. 
The Bleffings of Praytr,, 60 
- Prejudices contrafted, : 94 
Heriditary Prejudices, ted 
Liberty of Prayer, 118 


Why Parables were ufed by Chritt “134 
‘Fault of Young Preachers reproved, 141 


© Secret and Social Prayer, . eu ty i-o 
Ot the Tone of the Voice in ay a 170 
Sinful to complain of Providence,” Bae ok 
Of Rrayery, ~ 


a4 i ‘ ‘i hp 195. 


CONTENTS. vii 


Page 

. R. i ‘ 
Reading, B4 
Subftance of Natural Religion, 46 
Advantages of Reading, - 66 


‘Reading and Converfation contrafted, 67 
. Method of Reading recommended,. 76 


Reafon a Source of Religion, 88 
- Revelation fuperior to Reafon, 108: 
Reafon alone not fufficient'to procure 
Wifdom and Happinefs, 109 
For improving the Reafoning Faculties, 119 
Obedience due to Revelation; 145 
Religion and Morality to be encauraged 
ae mdchaldren; <2 3748 
Late Repentance, . eae 1; 
T he Rake reformed, a Tale, - 202 
Spring; 7 poe Lae . 26 
Self-love,. . 40 


Salvation through Telos Chri; 
Salvation to be extended to thote who. 


have not believed in Chrift, , 58 
Exhortation againft Sorrow, , 81 
Of Science, . 86 
Ule of Brnaenden. 7 - 323 
On the Sacrifice of our Redeemer; 136 

ia Bee 
incienbes of Thoughts, 50. 


mcr “oo of terrifying young 
~~ Minds, | 150 


zi: : 


viii CONTENES. - 
grt} . Page 
The End of Time, ./  < 183 
Value of Time, . 184. 
Vanity, wea Lis tohgatenl ys eSy: 
Wonder, . es wae ge 
oP OVE 2 ae 
ee Judement; aries Mp. an par 
The Univerfal. Hallelujah, Tere er Ly 
The Day of Judgment, (226 
Fire, Air, Earth, and Sea, as “a lh vay 
Lon, ooh alee 928) 
‘Launching into Eternity, : te, ABS 
Breathing t towards the Heavenly. Comey, Lee 
‘Converfe with Chrift, - 432 
Falfe Greatnefs, bo pumas “le Cl 
‘True monarchy,. ~ cs hs pe 
Few Happy Matches, ae hes eee 
; Y fi US a ee 
Os es, 
cad aie, 
ren Base? 
' at ‘ oa Bee 


ae 
pe 


ap Hy as ae 


a op 


\ 


pooror WATTS. 


4 


oT is not! to’ ae ieee ine the 1ife oa a 


“man devoted from a! flateof infancy'to 


ftudy and retirement, | fhould: be: “pregnant 
with ‘fuch: incidents as ate! ‘apt to’ excite/pub- 
liv curiofity.. "The traly exellent perfomof 
whom it is our bufinefs to prefent the reader 
with fome biographical anecdotes, was diftin: | 
euifhed by a cheerful and uninterrupted dif 
__ charge of every religious and moral duty; an 
_ imagination ‘fo fertile in original and great 


ideas as to feem incapable of being exhauit= i 
_€d, a profound and folid judgment, and SOT. 


~ extenfive literary acquirements.« | 

- Having premifed thus much, we fhall pro- 
ceed to the natrative.The father of Doctor’ 
Watts kept a boarding {chool in the town of 
Southampton ;. ardhis qualifications for the 
_ Office of a preceptor were fuch, as procured 
him confiderable’ encouragement, while the 
; integrity of his manners gained him the tefs ~ 
‘ai of all who had the happine(s of his ; acs 


dy Qe 
t 


ie 
10 THE LIFE OF DR. WATTS. 


quaintance. Of nine children, Ifaac was the 
eldeft. Though Mr. Watts was not in-eir-- 
cumftances of Opulence, yet his income was 
equal to the fupport of his numerous family 
in a ftile of gentility, — 

I{aac Watts was born at Southampton. on 
the 17th of July 1674... Ata very early 
period of life he appeared to be ftrongly at- 
tached to reading; and this difpofition: was 
with pleafure obferved, and carefully culti- 
vated, by his parents. At four years old his 
father began to'inftruct him in Latin; and 
after having made fome confiderable progrefs 
in that language, and in other fundamental 
branchés.-of learning, he was placed under 
the tuition of the Reverend Mr.. Pinhorne, 
a clergyman of the eftablithed, church, and ° 
matter of the free-fchool at Southampton. 

In this fituation our young’ ftudent afford- 
ed very early proofs of an imfatiable thirft 
for learning, and of an uncommon brilliancy . 
of genius, which indeed rendered him after- 
wards fohighly diftinguifhed in the literary. 
world. His rapid'progrefs in the learned 
languages, and in various branches of the 
{ciences, together with the fprightlinefs and 
vivacity of his wit, which he had the happy 
_ talent of attempering with a degree of. fo- 
ber judgment, which was altogether extraor 
dinary in one of his years, induced fom 
_ eral-minded perfons to propofe engaging 
a fubfcription for the purpofe of compleat~. 


Taor- 


“#3 


‘THE LIFE. OF DR. WATTS. iT 


ing his education at one of the univerfities. 
‘This generous propofal, however, he declin- 
ed with grateful acknowledgments, declaring 


“his refolution of adhering to thofe principles 


he had imbibed from his parents, which im- ~ 


: pelled him to attach himfelf to the Diffent- 


ing church: ; 


_~ "Jn the year 1690, young Mr. Watts took 


up his refidence at an academy in London 


under the dire€tion‘ of the Reverend Mr. 


‘Thomas Rowe, who, it is recorded upon good. 


authority, had not, during the years that he 


yefided in his feminary of learning, a fingle 
occafion for addreffing him in a ftile even of 
the mildeft reprimand or reproof, fo ‘early 
was his mind imprefied with juft fentiments 
of religion and morality, fuich perfe& fimpli- 
city was there in his manners, and fo indefa- 
tigably affiduous was he in his ftudies. - His 
moft intimate companions while’ at Mr. 
‘Rowe’s academy were his fellow-ftudents, 


~ Mr. Horte, afterwards archbifiop of Tuam, 


and Mr. Hughes, the Poet. © 
“Mr. Watts became’a poetical effayift'at 
the age of fifteen, and this art he cultivated, 


- though rather as an amufement,‘or a relaxa- 
_tion from more fevere ftudies, than’as a mat- 


ter of ferious bufinefs, till he had arrived at 
fifty. For a confiderable time béfore the 
expiration of his. minority he appears fo have 


‘frequently ditefted his’ attention to Latin — 


i ‘poetry, though not with a view of acquiring 


{2 |THE AdPEOR DR WARTS. : 


the reputation either of great: learning,or ex- 
pau, talents, but et to obtain . a 
_ more perfedt knowledge of the language. 
The ftcength of bis mind, sand, Bi Angler. 
induftry, are. fufficiently,, in. thefe’ 
productions, which. though ; ; art the ef- 
fect of no inconfiderable labour, and not. to 
be placed jn. competition ‘with many of his 
ther pieces 5 yet there is fo much; (propriety 


both in the fentiments and the, language,‘and . 


they fo.admirably, correfpond .with;each otl- 
. ef, that.comméndation, will even} hene be ex- 
torted from the utmoft: erie, of rorBical 


’ examination. 


(da thoyear 1693, Mr. Wrates, sasicai in 
communion with»the chyreh : -of, whigh. his 
tutor, Mr. Rowe, was:pafter. -Faving;pat 
fed through a regular courfe of education at. 
Mr. Rowe’s academy, about. his? twentieth — 
year, |he. returned ; to. his, father’s houfe -at 
‘Southampton, where. he was, received, with 
‘the utmoft, cendernefs of: parental affection, : 
‘every opportunity being afforded iim’. for 
further qualifying himfelf. toiaffume thatam- 
ortant {tation, to which in.proeefs of: time — 
e became one .of. the ,moft siRingenbies 
| pci 
- 4, (Having! be hay a years swith, his father, 
~ conttantly employed.in ardent study, and) in 
the: devotional . exexcifes..of j pe ao 0 
Chriftian;, he-acceptedian, invitation trom.Sit 14 
ae Hartopp,to refide in Be Math: 


7 


THE LIFE OF DR. WATTS. - © 13 


family in quality of tutor to his fon. In this 
fituation he remained upwards of four years, 
during which period. he peculiarly devoted 


his mind to theological and {criptural ftudies. 


His exemplary piety, the fimplicity and ¢a- 


§ine(s of his. manners, his extenfive knowledge, 
and various other great and agreeable qualt-. 


ties, eflablifhed the foundation of that reci- 


procal and lafting friendfhip which fubfitted 
between this excellent preceptor and his a- 
miable pupil. 
On the 17th July 1698, the day-on which 
Mr. Waits attained his twenty-fourth year,” 


he preached his probationary fermon at the 


chapel in Berry-ftreet, London, to a very 


- numerous congregation, who united in ac- 
knowledging, that, whether confidered in a 


theological, a moral, or a philofophical point 


“of view, the difcourfe of the youthful caadi-.° 


date for being admitted a labourer in the vine- 


_ yard of his bleffed Saviour Jefus Chrift,would 
’ have reflected the higheft honour upona divine 


_who had grown grey in the fatigues of ftudy 


and the exercife of the paftoral functions. In 
the fame year he was chofen: affiftant to Dr. 


_Tfaac Chauncy ; but though his public la- 


bours procured him -univerfal veneration, 


_ they were in a fhort time interrupted by a 


oie i 


dangerous in«ifpofition, which continued for 


_ the {pace of five months, and was fuppofed 
_ to have been occafioned by too rigid an at- 


~ 


tention to his ftudies, and the unremitting 
eS Gi. 4 B 


eh 
ee 
t 


14 THE LIFE OF DR. WATTS, 


activity and fervent zeal with which he ayail- 
ed himielf of every opportunity of procla‘m- 
ing the gofpel of Chrift, notwithftanding the 
natural weaknefs of his conftitution feemed 
but little adapted to fuch fevere and conftant 
‘exertions. But upon the re-eftablithment of 
his health, his pious endeavours for the falva- 
_ tion of the fouls of his fellow-creatures fuffer- 
ed no abatement. ered 

Mr. Watts was, in January 1701, appoint- 
_ed to fucceed Doctor Chauncy.; and on the 
18th of March was folemnly ordained to the 
paftoral office ; but prefently after his pro- 
motion, he was attacked by a very painful 
and threatening illnefs ; from which he re- 
- covered by very flow, and, for a long time, 
by almoft imperceptible degrees ; and indeed 
for feveral years, after this fhock, his health 
remained in a very precarious ftate. In'the 
interim, however, that his congregation in 
particular, and. mankind in general, might 
not be deprived of fo invaluable a member 
of fociety; and fo exemplary a minifter of 
the. gofpel of Chrift, by too ftri& an atten- 
tion to the diicharge of the duties of his 
holy office, it,was deemed expedient that he 
fhould be relitved from too intenfe applica- 
tion by a regular and ftated affiftant; and 
accordingly Mr. Samuel Price was in June 
1703, chofen to that employment. = 
Being now afforded an opportunity of al- 
Jowing his mind fome ‘relaxation from the 


\ 


~THE. LIFE _OF DR, WATTS. ae’ 


; fatigues of -his safer office, his health was 
F gradually reftored ; and he again returned 
to.a diligent acquital of his holy miniftrati- 
on, to which tafk, arduous as it was, he ad- 
ded that of eftabhithing a fociety, of the: 
- younger members of his ch urch, for the pur- 
poles of prayers and -religious conference-: 
and to thefe pupils he, from time to time, 
delivered the fubftance of the book which he 
afterwards publifhed under the title of a 
GUIDE TO.PRAYER. 
Our Divine. linea in the reguiar at- 
tendance upon his public duty till the year, 
1712, when in the month ot September he, 
was feized with a violent fever, from which 
he was not relieved till the cruel difeafe had. 
_ fo fhattered his nerves and enfeebled his con- 
ftitution, that though he recovered the full 
powers and vigour of his mind, it feemed 
not io the leaft probable that-his exiftence 
upon earth would be prolonged through 
half the number of years which he afterwards. 
enjoyed. During this illnefs fervent prayers 
to the throne of God were frequently put 
forth in his own church, and alfo in many 
others, for the prefervation of fo valuable a 
life ; and the ardour of devotion which was ~ 
_manifefted on thefe occafions, afforded a ve- 
ty remarkable proof of the high veneration 
and efteem in which he was held by all ranks 
of pious Chriftians, and particularly by his: 
brethren of the miniftry. 


16 THE LIFE OF DR. WATTS. | 


Soon after being attacked by this illnefs, 
at his earneft intreaty, his affiftant Mr. 
Price was appointed a paftor of the church - 
jointly with him. Between thefe pious mem- 

- bers of the Chriftian church there fubfitted , 
a friendfhip difinterefted and cordially pious - 
till the death of Dr- Watts, who bequeath- 
‘ed a legacy, to “ his faithful friend and com- 
*‘‘panion in the labours of the miniftry, as 
“only a fmall teftimony of his great affec- 
** tion for him, on account of his fervices of 
*‘ love during the many harmonious years 
‘of their fellowfhip in the work of the gof- 
abo Bg iar | 

The traces of his laft indifpofition were 
too manifeft for the eafe of his numerous 
friends, who feverely regretted the very pre-~ 
carious.and alarming ftate to which his con- 
flitution had been reduced ; and among the. 
moft diftinguithed of thefe was the late*Sir 
Thomas Abney, who with an ardency of per-. 
fuafion which the fincerity and warmth of 
Mr. Watt’s friendfhip fer his generous fup- 
plicant, and a thorough conviction of his ex- = 
emplary piety and numberlefs public and 
private virtugs, di{qualified him for refifting, 
invited our divine to eftablifh his refidence 
at his feat, at Stoke Newington. HE: 

While he remairied in the family of Sir — 

Thomas Abney, “ the notions of rer i 
© and dependence were overpowered by the ~ 
‘perception of reciprocal benefits.” About 


THE LiFe OF DR. WATTS+ bs 


i eight years after his removal to the houfe of: 


Siw Thomas at Stoke Newington, that gen- 


_ tleman died ; and fince a more pious and or-- 


thodox Chriftian, or a man of more exem-- 
plary virtue either in public* or in private 
life has been fcarcely known; it will eafily be 
gay that his death was frncerely lansent- 
tér the deceafe, of his generous and. 
oral tefpectable friend, he continued to re- 
fide in the family of’ ‘Lady Abney’ till his. 
death, including in, the whole a period of 
thirty-fix years, during which, both by that 
a and-her truly excellent daughter, the: 
prefent Mrs. Elizabeth Abney, he was treat- 
ed with the fame uniformity of friendfhip 
which he had experienced during the life of 
Sir Thomas.- During his refidence in this. 
happy family; whichas Dottor Gibbons juft- 
ly obferves, “« for piety, order, harmony, and. 
“* every virtue,.was an houfe of God,” his: 


. days Tan on in an even tenor, divetiied on-- 


ly by a fucceffion of kterary productions.’ 
Without: folicitation, -or even a hint ‘that 
the. comphment would be acceptable, in the 
year 1728, the univerfities of: Edinburgh and. 
Aberdeen tran{mitted him a diploma, where- 
by Mr. Watts was conftituted a doctor of 
divinity : and in-this grant it muft be allow-- 


* Sir Thomas Abney was fevyeral yéars an Alderman of London ; - 


and he likewife ferved the? office of Lord Mayor.': As his private’: — 


lite was without reproach, fo he difcharged the duties of his public 
ftation with unimpeached integrity. He died Febsuary 6th, 172 12; 
lathe Sad ycar of -his age. 

y Nid 


~ 


18 THE LIFE OF DR. WATTe: 


ed there was fingular proprietyghfon Ae had. « 
long rendered himfelf worthy of the diftine- 
tion; not on'y by his diligence and fuccels as 
a Chriftian minifter,but alfo. by his numerous. 
theological, philofophical and metaphyfical > 
writings, and by being the man whovhad un- 
queftionably contributed more than any oth- 
er to convince the Diffenters, who had been 
eyer remarkable for an affected contempt of 
_ the beauties of language; and a ftudied: ine= 
Jegancy of expreffion, that the great truths 
of the Chriftian gofpel would become doub- 
ly attractive when difplayed in ‘the ee 
powers of a polifhed diction. 
In ftature Doctor Watts was but little a-: 
bove fix fect. Though his: figure feemed 
not calculated to command attention, yet in- 
common difcourfe upon ferious fubjects, as 
well as in the pulpit, there was a dignified fo- 
Jemnity in his whole deportmentand manner ~ 
of utterance that afforded a kind of irrefifia- 
ble energy to what ever came from his lips. 
. Gefticulation in the pulpit be rejeéted'both 
as unneceffary and as little correlponding with 
the gravity and importance of divine topics y 
but in familiar converfation he was not fo 
obfervant of a feverity of manners ; bis fané 
‘ey was excurfive, and bis wit was brilliant 5 
and he fometimes exercifed thofe- fecnlties: 
with frecdom, though he ever reftrained hints. 
felt within the bounds of firié decorum, 
fldom difmifing a fubjeQ without ic 


‘THE LIPE OF DR. WATTS: 198 


from it fome excellent leffon: of religion or 
- morality. 

While in the family of Sit Thomas Ab- 
“ney and his:Lady,-he conflantly devoted one 
_ fifth* of his: income to chkaritableufes:;-and- 
he-trequently vifited the poor in ficknels, and 
cheerect their drooping hearts with {piritual 
comfort. 

Since his writings have been criticifed by 
- that em'nent jude: of literary merit Doctor 
Samue! Johniou, it would perhaps be deem- 
ed a fort of-prefumption 1n the writer of this 
narrative, were he to obtrude upon the read-’ 
er his own opinion as to the degree of ap- 
probation that is due fo the voluminous’ 
works. of Doétor -Watts.: and: therefure he* 
will introduce an extract which though con’ 
~ cife, he tiuits will prove fatistactory.. 

« Few men have left behind fuch purity 
« of character or fuch monuments of labo-' 
« rious: piety, He has provided inftruGion 
« for all-ages, from thofe who are Iifping 
‘ their firtt jeflons-to the enlightened reads” 
~  er§ of Maibranche and: Locke 3 he has left 
neither corporeal nor {piritual nature un- 
“ examined ; be has taught the art of rea- 
“ {oning, and the feience of the fars.’-0- 

«| Fis characters therefore, mutt be forme 
«“ edirom the multiphcity and diverfity of. 
« his attainments, rather than trom any fin= © 


“ 


td ee gues fays one tira im-but this J rasa sty to bea 


. 


20’ THE LIFE OF DR. WATTS. © 


‘ole performance ; for.it would mot be fate 
“to claim for him the higheft rank ‘in any”. 
“‘fingle denomination of literary dignity ;. 
“yet perhaps there is- nothing in which he- 
“would not have. excelled; if he had not- 
¢ divided his powers to different purfuits. 


“ Asa poet, .had he been only-a poet, he’ % 


« would probably have ftood high among: 
*¢ the authors with whom he is-now aflociat- 


‘©ed. For his judgments were exact, and he *- 


“‘ noted beauties and faults. with anice dif-. 
<¢ cernment ; his imagination, as the: Dacian » 
«< Battle proves, was vigorous and active, and: 
“« the ftores of knowledge: were large bywhich» 
‘¢ his imagination was fupplied.” His ear was - 


** well- tuned and his diction was. citi and. | 


bial copious.’ 


For between two and three : years beforex 


his death, the aCtivity and fprightlinefs of his - 


_maind fuffered a gradual abatement : but in 
no other refpect did his. faculties feem: im-: - 


paired. Death had no terrors for a man* 
whofe life had been uniformly: employed in‘ 
preparing himfelf for the awful change which’ 
was to give him pofleMion of thofe glorious’ 
rewards which he now enjoys through the 
mediation of:his bleffed Saviour. . 


Doctor Ifaac Watts died-at Stoke Newiog: - 


“ton on the 25th of November, 1748, 1m: sean 
feventy- fifth year of his age. 


*- 
# 


THE 
Be A UT Es 


-OF 


THE INVISIBLE NATURE OF GOD. 


E are the work of fome ‘more power- 
ful and fuperior hand; but how we 
came firft into being, we. know not: the 
manner of our original exiftence is hid from 
us in darknefs : we are neither con{cious of 
our creation, nor of the Power which created 
us. He made us, but he hid himfelf from 
our eyes and ears, and all the fearches of fenfe. 
He has fent us to dwell in this vifible world, 
amidft an endlefs variety of rmages, figures, 
and colours, which force themfelves upon our 
fenfes ; but he forever difclaims all image, 
colour, and figure himfelf. He hath fet us, 
who are inferior {pirits, this tafk, in thefe re- 
gions of mortal fleth, to fearch and feel after 
him, if baply we may find the fupreme, the in- 
| arte, and eternal Spirit. /V¥e ave near a-kin- 


22 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


to him, even his own offspring 5. but we fee 
not our Father’s face‘; nor can all the powers 
of our nature come at the knowledge of him 
that made: us, but» by the labours aad infer- 
- ences of Our réafon: We toil and work back- 
ward to find our Creator: from our prefent 
exiftence, we trace out his eternity ; “and 
through the chain of a thoufand vifible et- ~ 
fects, we fearch out the F irft, the Invifible, 
and Almighty Caufe. 

When we fancy we perceive tomtthine of 
hum, it-is-at-a- diftance, and in a-dufky.twi-° 
light. We efpy fome faint beams, fome glim- 
merings of his glory breaking through the 
works of his hands; but he himfelf ftands 
behind the veil, and: does not fhew-himéelt in 
open light to the fons and daughters of\mor- 
. tality. Happy. creatures, if we could. make. 
our way; fo near him, as to behold the lovely. 
and 1 giibiay e beauties of his nature 5 if we. 
could place our fouls fo direétly under his 
kindeft:influeuces, as to feel ourfelyes adore 
him in the moft protound humility, and love’ 
him with the moft fublime affection, | 


~ MISCEL. THOUGHTS, “pi 2 


‘IDOLATRY. 


Ir has been | an old temptation to man-. 
kind, almoft ever fince. human nature’ was. 


4e 


‘THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 23 


made, that we ‘defire to*find out fomething 
juft like-God. Hence arofe a great part of 
the idolatry of ancient ages, and of.abmoft all 
the heathen world. The chriftian world, in- | 
deed, has much clearer light, and nobler dif- 
coveries of the invifible nature of God ; and_ 
yet how has the -Romith church ‘fallen into 
_grofs idolatry in this, refpect, and with pro- 
fane attempt they have painted all the Ble/ed 
Trimity ! Whatioever pretence they may de- 
_ tive from the buman nature «of the Son of 
_ God, or from the dove-like appearance of the 
- Holy Spirit, to draw thefigures of a dove or 
aman, as a memorial of thofe facred conde- 
_ fcenfions ; yet I know no fufficient warrant 
they can have to fly tn the very face of Divine 
Prohibition, and to paint ‘and carve the figure 
of God the Father like an old man, when he 
| mever appeared among men in any bodily 
form ; and our Lord Ye/us himfelt fay ~of him, 
«© Ye have neithet heard his voice at any time, 
nor feen his fhape.”  Fobu v. 37. | 


MISCEL. THOUGHTS, p. 7. 


‘ 


_THE STUDY OF MANKIND. 


AMONG all the ufeful and entertaining aie 


_ ftudies of philofophy, there is none fo worthy’. : 


. of manas the {cience of human nature. There © 


24 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


is none that furnifhes us with more wonders — 
of Divine Wifdom, Or gives higher occafion 
to adore Divine Goodnefs. 


MISCEL, nad ehaity ies rH . 
SS eee 


ENQUIRY INTO THE SPIRITUAL AND ANIMAL EX- 
ISTENCE ar MAN. 


NOW I ftand, now I lie down; I vn a- 
gain and walk ; i eat, drink, and fleep ; ; 
pulfe beats, and I draw the breath of life: 
furely | have the parts.and powers of an ani- 
_mal; I am a living body of fiefh and blood, 
a wondertul engine, with many varieties of 
motion., But let me confider, alfo, what ath: 
er actions I perform.  _ , 

I think, I meditate, and contrive ; I com- 
pare things, and judge of them ; now E-doubrt, - 
and then I believe; I will what I act, and 
fometimes I wifh what I caninot act : I defire 
‘and hope for what I have not, as well as am 
confcious of what I have, and rejeice in it: I 
look backward, and lurvey ages paft,and} look 
forward into what is to come. Surély | mult 
be a Spirit, a thinking Power, a Soul, fome- 
thing very diftin& from this machine of mat 

, ter, with all its fhape and motions. - . 
, Mere maiter, put into all poflible motion, 
can: never think, reafon, and contrive ; can 
-never hope and with as I do, and furvey dif. 
ce tant times, the paft and. future, What am 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS: 25 


f 
Athen? What ftrange kind of Being is this; 
which is.confcious of all thefe different agen- 
‘cies, both of Matter and Spirit ?.. What fort 
of thing can I be, who feem to think and rea- 
fon in my head, and feeland am conicious of © 
pain and eafe, not at. my heart only, but at 
my toes and fingers too? I conclude, then, 
_ I can be nothing elie but a Compound Creature, 
made up.of thefe two difting& beings, Spsrzt 
and Matter; or, as: we -ufually. expres it, 


~ 


Soul and Body. . 
It.is very plain alfo'to'me, upon a fmall 
enguiry, that this body and this foul did not 
make them/elves, nor oneanother. Ihadno 
“more hand in the union of thefe two princi- 
ples, or in the compofition of myflelf, than I 
hain the making ot thofe two diftin& be- 
ings of which | ani compounded. | It was. 
Gop only, that great Gop who created both 
parts of me, the Amima/ and the Mind, who 
alfo joined them together in fo ftrange an 
union. And if I were to enter into. the myf- 
teries of this union, it would opena wide and 
various fcene of amazement.at his unfearch- 
able wifdom ! we a 
MISCEL. THOUGHTS, p. 19, 
ooo ——————— 
THE PRAISE OF GOD 8 
WHAT is praife? It is a part of that dr-. 
‘ vine worthip Ma ain oweto the Powerthat > 


ens + 
pa Sf 


2 " 240° en Ye) +] 


‘ ‘ 
26 THE BEAUTIES OF DRw WATTS. 


made us ; it isan acknowledgment of the per- 
fections of God, afcribing all excellencies to 
him, and confeffing all the works of nature 
and grace to proceed from him. Now, when 
we apply ourfelves to this work, and drefs up 
our notions of a God in magnificence of lan- 
fuage,—when’ we furnifh them out with 
dhining figures, and pronounce them with 
founding words—we ‘fancy ourlelves to fay 
great things, and are even charmed-with our 
‘own forms of praife: but, alas! the higheft 
and beft of thein, fet in a true hight, are but 
the feeble voice of a creature, {preading be- 
fore the Almighty Being that made him, 
‘fome of his own low and little ideas, and tell- 
_ .ing him what he thinks of the Great God, ” 
and what God has done. ~~ holy 
Pialmift would exprefs his honorable thoughts 
ot his Maker, they amount only to this, 
«* Thou art good, and thou doeft good.” 
Pfal. cxix. How inconfiderable an offering 
is this for a God ! and yet fo condefcending 
is his love, that he looks down, and is well 
pleafed to receive it. eid id 
MISCEL. THOUGHTS; p. 28, 


‘ , 
See eae 


SPRI N. Gian Shah dae 
: : CREAT RI. > 
WHAT aftonifhing variety of artifices; 
what innumerable millions of exquifite works, ” 


a F 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR: WATTS: 27. 


is the God of nature engaged’ in every. mo- 
ment! How glorioufly are his all-pervading 
wifdom-and power employed in this ufeful. 
feafon of the year, this Spring of Nature | 
What infinite myriads of vegetable beings is 
he forming this very moment, in their roots 
and branches, in their leayes and blofioms, 
their feeds and-fruit !. Some, indeed, begun. 
to difeover their bloom amid{t the fnows.of 
Fanuary, or under the rough: cold blafts of — 
' March : thofe flowers are withered and van- 
ithed in Apri/, and their feeds are now ripen- 
ing to perfection. Othersare fhewing them- 
felves this day in all their blooming pride and. 
beauty ; and while they adorn: the gardens. 
and meadows with gay and glowing colours, 
they promife their fruits in the day, of har- 
velt. Fhe whole nation: of vegetables is un- 
der the Divine cate and culture ; his hand 
forms them day and night with admirable 
fill and unceafing operation, according te 
the natures he firft gave them, and produces: 
their buds and foilage, their flowery blofloms, 
and rich fruits, in their appointed months. 
Their progrefs in life is exceeding fwift at. 
this: feafon: of the year ; and their tucceffive 
appearances, and iweet changes of raiment, 
are vifibie almoft hourly. 

Bat thefe creatures are of lower life, and 
give but feeble dilplays of the Maker’s wif-- 
dom. Let-us raife our contemplations anoth- 
ex. ftory, and. furvey.a nobler theatre of di-- 
x . 


* 
ea 


= 


28 THE BEAUTIES OF DRY WATTS» 


vine wonders. What endlefS armies of ani-. 
inals is the hand of God moulding and ‘fig- 
uring this very moment throughout his bru-. 
tal dominions! What immente flights of lit 
tle birds are now fermenting in the egg, 

heaving and growing towards fhape and lite! 
What vaft flocks of four footed creatures,. 
what droves of large cattle, are now framed: 
in their early: emaioei imprifoned in the dark: 
cells of nature! And others, perhaps, aré 
moving towards liberty; ‘and juft preparing to. 


fee the light! What unknown myriads of 


infects, in their various cradles and nefting- 
places, are now working toward vitality-and’ 
motion ! And thoufands of them with their’. 
painted wings ju(t beginning to unfurl, and. 
expand themfelves into fluttering and day-: 
light ; while other families of them have for- 
faken their hufky beds, and exult — 
in the warm fun-beams ! ~ 

“ An exquifite world of wonders-is compli 
cated even in the body of every little infect, 
an ant, a gnat, a mite, that is fearce vifible 
to the naked eye, Admirable engines! which: 
2 whole academy of philofophers could never 
contrive ; whieh the nation of poets hath 
neither art nor colours to deferibe 5’ - 
a world of mechanics fkill pe tot 
the plaineft or coarfeft of them. Theirn 
their mufcels, and the minute atoms 
compofe the fluids fit to run in the little 
channels of their, veins, efcape the canes & 


Si5 ie 
3 “hss 


ri “y 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 20 


k the mott fagacious ‘mathematician, with al 
- his aid of glatles. The attive powers and cu- 


riofity of human nature are limited in their 


_ purfuit, and muft be content to lie down in 


_ ignorance. 


It is a fublime and conftant triumph over. 
all the intelleétual_ powers of man, which the 
great God maintains every moment in thete 


inimitable works of nature, in thefe impene- 


trable recefies and myfteries of divine art f 
The flags and banners of Almighty wifdom 
are. now difplayed round half the. globe, and 
the other half waits the return of the {un to 
fpread the fame triumph over the fouthern 
world, The very {un-in the firmament is 
God’s prime minifter in this wondrous world 
of beings, and he works with fovereign vigour 
on the furface of the earth, and ipreads: his 
influences deep under the clods to every root 
and fibre, moulding them into their proper 
forms, by divine direétion. There is not a. 
plant, nora leaf, ner one little branching 
thread, above or beneath the ground, that 
efcapes the eye or influence of this benevolent 
ftar: an illuftrious emblem of the Omnipo- 


tence sat univerial activity of the Creator. ~ 
a> F MISCEL. THOUGHTS, P- 31. » 


" L-DIRECTIONS CONCERNING OUR IDEAS. 
FURNIS I yourlélves with a rich variety. 


--efideas 5 acquaint yourfelves with things an-- 


C2 


30. TNE BEAUTIES OF DRUWATTS:. 


cient and modern ; things natural, civil, and? 
religious ;. things domeftic and national ;: 
_things of your native land, and of foreign: 
countries ; things prefent, paft, and future ; 
and, above all, be well acquainted with God: 
and yourfelves ; learn animal nature, and the 
workings of your own fpirits. Such a gene- 
ral acquaintance with things will be of very 
great advantage. : 4 y= 
5 - LOGIC, p. 71. 


“e 


3 < eS 2 4 
Se 7 5 ? 
‘ y ¢ 


SUPERFICIAL OBSERVERS, - 


THERE are-fome perfons-that never’ ar-: 
rive at any deep, folid, or valuable knowl- 
edge, in any fcience, or any bufinefs of life,. 
becaufe they are perpetually fluttering over 
the furface of things, in a curious or wander- — 
ing fearch of infinite variety ; ever hearing, 
reading, or afking after fomething new, but 
impatient of any labour to lay up and pre- 
ferve the ideas they have gained ; their fouls. 
may be compared to a looking-glafs, that. 
wherefoever you turn it, it receives. the im- 
ages of-all objects, but retains none. 

2 1 LOGIC, /D. 7h 
et ae 


PE ein 7 


» 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS: 3h 


“RoE sé ee 


TF the books. which you read are your ~~ 
ewn, mark with a pen, or a pencil, the moft 


_ gonfiderable things in them which you defire 


to remember. Thus you may read that book 
the fecond time over with half the trouble, . 


_by your eye running over the paragraphs which 


your pencil has noted. It is but a very weak 


objection againft this prdétice, to fay, I /rall 


~ fpo:l my book; for I. perfuade myfelf, that you. 


_ ing your remarks, re 


dies any particular theme. 


did not buy it-as a bookieller, to fel! it again 
for gain, but asa fcholar, to improve your 
mind by it ;. and if the mmd. be improved, 
your advantage is abundant, though your 
book yields lefs money to your executors. 
This advice of writing, marking, and review- 
Hee chiefly to thofe oc-- 
cational notions you meet with either in read- 
ing or in converfation : but when you are 
direCtly or profefiedly purfuing any fubjeQ of — 
knowledge in a good {y{tem, in your younger: 
years, the fyftem itfelf is your common-place 
book, and muft be entirely reviewed. . The- 
fame may be faid concerning any treatife- 
which clotely, fuccinétly,-and accurately ban- 


LOGIC Pe 75; 


32 THE BEAUTIES OF DR, WaTTas 


ty Tee, 


wy hues Ys 


J 


THE BOUNTY OF THE CREATOR. — | 


WHAT is more-neceffary for the fupport — 
of life, than food ? Behold, the earth is cov- 
ered with it all around’; grafs, herbs, and 
fruits, for beafts and men, were ordained to» — 
over{pread all the furtace of the ground, fo _ 
that an animal could fcarce wander any where, . 
but his food was near him. Amazing pro- 
vifion for tuchy an immenfe family |—What 
are the fweeteft colours im nature, the moft. 
delightful to the eye, and the moft refrefhing. 
too ? Surely the green and blue claim this- 
pre-eminence. Common ‘experience, as well: 
as philofophy, tells us, that bodies of green 
and blue colours jend us fuch rays of light to 
our eyés, as are leaft hurtful or offenfive ; we 
can endure them longeit ; whereas the red. 
and yellow, or orange colour, fend more un+ 
eafy rays in abundance, and give greater con- 
fufion and pain to the eye ; they dazzle it 
fooner, and tire it quickly with a little intent 
gazing ; therefore the divine goodnefs drefled- 
‘all the heavens-in blue, and the earth in green, - 

ur habitation is overhung witha canopy ~ 
of moft beautiful azure, and a tich verdant’ 
pavement is {pread under our feet, that the 
eye may be pleafed and ealy whereloever it: 
turns itfelf, and that the moft univerlal.ob= _ 


hs 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. - 3% 


| jets it has to converfe with, might not im- 
" the {pirits. and make the fenfe ce) 


LB 
WHEN God the new- -made world harvey d 
_ His word pronounc’d the building good : 


‘Sun- beams and light the heavens array d,' 
_ And the while earth was crown’'d with food 


be 
ae that charm and pleafe the eye, 
_ His pencil fpread all nature round : 
With pleafing blue be arch’d the fey, : 
And a green carpet wk: ‘4 the ground. 


TIT. nis ae 


“Let envious atheifts ne’ er complain 

Phat nature wants, or feill, or care: 
But turn their eyes all round in vain, 

T avoid their Maker’s goodnefs there. 


MISCEL. THOUGHTS, p. 36+ 


an ms ‘: eae tu» 


We CoN Dyk "KR: 


WHEN we perceive any object that is 


sare and uncommon, that is, new and ftrange, | 


either for its kinds, or for its qualities ; or * 


‘ when. we meet with fuch an occurrence or 


Se 


a 


$4 THE BEAUTYES OF DRy WATTS! 


event as is unu{ual or unexpected § of- fuck: 
as is, at leaft, unuftal at fach a particular time! 


and place ; we are ftruck with admiration or ~ 
wonder: and that without any confideration © 


whether the object be valuable.or worthlefs, 
whether it be good or evil. We wonder at 
a Ls great or a very little man, ‘a dwartora 

3, at avery little horfe, at a huge fiake 
or fame? at an elephant, or 2 whale, or a coms 
et, or at any rare performances of art, as mov- 
ing machines, fuch as clocks, a AY with, 
a variety of uncommon motions and opera~ 
tions : we wonder at a piece of extraordina- 


ry wit, fkill, or learning; even at artificial 


trifles, as‘a flea kept. alive i in a-chain; at any 
uncommon appearances. in nature difcovered 
by a telefcope, a microfcope, 8c. Admira- 
tion has no regard. to the.agreeablenefs or dif- 
agreeablenefs of the objet, but only to the 
rarity of it. And for this reafon wonder. feems 
to be the firft of the paffioms. ,, 


DOCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS, p. 17. | 


- Eet it be obferved, that this paffion has 
properly no oppofite ; becaufe, if the object 
be not rare or new, or if the appearance be 
not fudden or unexpected, but a mere com- 
mon or familiar thing, or an unexpected oc- 


SS Bee are A> 
Baa eins ah ele 
Pee ak 


currence, we receive it with great calmnefi,. | 


vand feel no fuch commotion ‘of nature about 


it : we treat it with neglect, egos, 


eure 


~~ a 


‘ 
: 


~ 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR.WATTS. 35 


Now neglect i is no paffion. ‘The-reft of the 
. pation, at leaft the moft-of them, goin pairs. 


DOCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS, p. 18. 


BENEVOLENCE AND COMPLACENCY. 


~ BENEVOLENCE is fometifnes laid out 
upon, an object that has no fuch prefentgood 
in it.as we can’defire or delight in, but only 
‘fome foundation of future good, or fome ca- 
pacity to be made. good oragreeable. A pi- 
ous man can never love wicked men with the 
love of complacency or delight ; but he may 
exercife the love of benevolence towardsthem, 
to-pity them, and to-wifh their recovery. So — 
_our Saviour could not love the bloody city 
of Jerufalem with complacency, becaufe it 
killed the prophets, and blafphemed God 
and his Son; but h ed it with, benevo- 
lence, and wept overatdome tears of com- 
paffion. ‘ 


THE PASSIONS, p. 32. 


Passions INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT, SITU ATIONS 
IN LIFE. é 


- DIFFERENT anflGhunart and differs 
Sati conditions of life,-beget in'us.a tendency 
 kaour different -pafiions.. . Thofe-whovare ex: 


36 THE BEAUTIES OF DR, WATTS. 


alted above others in their daily ftations, and 
efpecially if they have to do with many per- 
fons under them, and in many affairs, are too 
- often tempted to the haughty, the morofe, 
the furly, and the mere unfriendly ruffles and 
difturbances of nature, unlefs they watch a- 
gainft them with daily care, The command- 
ers in armies and navies, the governors of 
work-houfes, the malters of public {chools, 
or thofe who have'a great numberof fervants 
under them, and a multitude of cares and 
_ concerns in human life, fhould continually 
‘fet a guard upon themlelves, left they get a 
habit of affected tuperiority, pride, and van-’ 
ity of mind, of fretfulnels, impatience, and 
criminal anger. , 


DOCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS, p. 71. 


TO SUBDUE PRIDE 


CONSIDER what you fhall be. Your 
flefh returns to corruption and common earth 
again ; nor-thall your duft be diitinguifhed 
from the meaneft beggar or flave; no, nor 
from the duft of brutes and infeGts, or the ' 
moft contemptible of creatures. And as-fot 
your foul, that mutt ftand before God, in the © 
world of fpirits,on a level with the reft of . 
mankind, and divedted of all your haughty — 


.%, 


J wie 
tv, 


WHE: BEAUTIES OF: DR. WATT Se 37 


f and flattering diicistsbftintiog None of your: 
vain diftinétions ‘in this life fhall.attend you 

to the judgment-feat. Keep this tribunal in 

view, and pride will wither, and hang down 

its head. 


“DOCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS, p. 99. - 


ci 


SS ee 


GRACE AT MEALS. 


THE converfation turned upon the fub- 

; 508 of faying grace before and after meat. 
\When feveral of the company had given their 
thoughts, Serenus acknowledged it was not 
“neceflary tovoffer a folemn and particular pe- 
tition to heaven on the occafion-of every bit 
‘of bread that we tafted, or when we'drink a 
lafs of wine with a friend ; nor was it ex- 
“pected we fhould make.a focial prayer when 
iperfons, each for themielves, took a flight re- 
paft in arunning manner; either the general 
morning devotion is fuppofed fufficient to re- 
commend fuch tranfient a€tions and occur- 
ences to the divine bleflings ‘or a fudden fe- 
-cret wifh, fent up to heaven in filence, might 

-an{wer fuch a purpofe ia’ the chriftian life : 
but when a whole family fits down together 
.to make a reguiar and ftated meal, it-was his. 
“epinion, that the Gieat God fhould’ be dol- 
Bek Bx: 


$8 THE BEAUTIES OF DREAWATTE. 


emnly acknowledged as the ‘giver of all the’ 
good things we enjoy; and the practice of 
our Saviour, and St. Paul, eh ist us an il-- 


duftrious example, i 
MrscEL. sasiaidisa 65." 


THE CHURCHYARD 


WHAT a multitude of beings , noble: 
creatures, are here reduced to cult + God 
has broken his own beft cathe to pie-. 
.ces, and demolifhed by thoufands the fineft 
earthly ftru@tures of his own building. Death 
has entered in, and reigned over this town 
for many fucceffive centuries 5 it had its com- 
- miffion from God, and it has devoured 


snu'titudes of ‘men, aa tteys Rawat | 
MISCEL. THOUGHTS, p 107. 
, ; pre 


Go to the church-yard, then, O finful and 
thougbtlefs mortal ; go learn from every 
~tomb-ftone, and every: rifing hillock, that 
«« The wages of fin is death.” Learn in fi- 
Icnce, among the dead, that leffon which in- 
finitely concerns all the living ; nor let thy 
heart be ever‘at reft, till chow art acquainted 
with Jesus, who is the 1, ee eee 

ie. . se 
ae fi ass citar wh 


A THOUGHT ON DEATH. 
DEATH, ‘to a good man, is but paffing 
through a dark entrv, out of one little dufky 
Too of his-father’s houfe, into another that ja 
is fair and: large, lightfome ‘and glorious, and 


divinely entertaining. O, may ‘the rays and 


TE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 39. 


2 Fit 2 
Shee 


_ fplendors of my heavenly apattment fhoot far - 


- downward, and gild the dark entry with {uch 


~ acnearful cleam, as to banifh every fear when ° 


1 fhall be Jane to paf3 through ! | 


MISCZL, THOUGHTS, p. 120, 


HUMAN EXCELLENCIES AND DEFECTS. « 


THERE is nothirg on earth ‘excellent om 
all fides ; there muft be fomething wanting. 
in the beft of creatures, to fhew how far they 

~ are from perfection. God has wifely ordained. 
it; that. excellencies and defects. fhould be 
mingled amoneft men ; advantage and dif- 
advantage are thrown into the balance ; thes 
one is fet over-agginft the other, that no mane 
fhight be fupremely exalted, and none utter-- 


yy: contemptible. : 
|“ MISCEL, THOUGHTS, p. 1472 


42 THE BEAUTI£S OF DR. WATT. 


9 BL Fsbo y & | 


YOUTH is wild and licentious. \ In thofe- 
. years, we perfuade ourfelves that we are only~ 
making a juft ule of liberty. In that. fcene 
of folly we are light add vain, and fet no- 
bounds to the frolick humour ;- yet we fancy: 
_it is merely an innocent gaiety of heart, which 
belongs to the fprings of nature, and the 
blooming hours of life. In ¢he age of man- 
hood, a rugged or a haughty -temiper is angry 
or quarrelfome ; ; the fretiul and the peevifh 
in elder years, if not before, ate ever kindling. 
into paffion and-refentment 5 but they all a-- 
_ gree to pronounce their furious or fretful con~ 
. duct a mere neceffar y reproof of the indigni- 
ee which were offered: them by the world. 
Self-love is fruitful of fine names forits own: 
iniquities. Others are fordid and covetous. 
to a thameful degree, uncompatiionate and’ 
cruel to the miferable ; and yet they take- 
this vile practice to be only a jult exercile. of 
frugality, and a dutiful care of theirewn houf- 
hold.. Linus, every vice that belongs to us,.. 
is‘conftrued into a virtue ; - and,.if there are. 
“any fhadows or appearance virtue upon: 
us, thefe poor pial fhadows are* 
magnified and realized into the divine quali- 
- of an angel. We, who pafs thefe juft- 
-enfures on the follies of our aC qe 4 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR.WATTS. 41% 


perhaps approve the very fame things in our- 
felves, by the influence of the fame native 
principle of flattery and felf-fondneds. 


ie mn MISCEL. THOUGHTS, p- 157. 


‘TRUST IN THE SON OF GOD. 


THEY that- have trufted in the Son of 
_ God, begin to find peace in their own con- 
iciences ; they can hope God is reconciled to: 
them through the blood of Chrift, that their” 
_ imiquities are atoned for,. and that peace is- 
~ made betwixt God and them, This belongs- 
_ only to the doétrine of Chrift, and witnefles- 
it to be divine ; for there is no religion that: 
ever pretended to lay fuch-a foundation of - 
pardomand peace, as the religion of the Son» 
of God does ; for he has sake | eae pro-- 
. pitiation’; Jefus the Righteous f& become our’ 
_ reconciler, by becoming afacrifice : Rom. iii. - 
26. “ Hit that God fer forth Tor a propi-- 
‘tiation, through faith in his blood, to de- 
“clare his righteoufnefs for the remiffion of 
-‘* fins that are paft.;-that he might be juft, - 
“and the juftifier of him that believes in Je- 
“fus : Therefoge, being juftified by faith, we: 
“have peace with God... Rem. v. 1. Behold: 
_*¢the Lamb of ie that takes away the fins. 


- 


MEST eny |) gs 
4x THE BEAUTIES OF DRY WATTS: 


«of the world !” was the language of Johiny. 
who was but the forerunner of our religion, 
and took a profpect of it at-a little diflance : « 
and much more of the particular glones and 
‘bleflings of this atonement is difplayed by the: - 
bleffed Apofles, the followers of the Lamb. 
Other relgions, that have been drawn from: 
the remains of the light of nature, or that. 
have been ihvented by the fuperftitious fears 
and fancies of men, and obtruded on mankind 
by the craft of their fellow creatures, are at a- 
lofs in this inftance, and cannot {peak folid” 
- peace and pardon. vite ade ah ea 
SERMONS, Vole T. pede.” 


——_— ---- 


a an 
“= 


CONTEMPT-OF THE’ TRIELES OF THIS WORLD> 


IF we fopk upward to Héaven, we fhalt. 
behold thhete*all ‘the inhabitants looking down. 
with a facred contempt upon'thetrifles,amufe- — 
ments, bufineffes and cares of this prefent life, 
that engrafs our affections, awaken ourdefites, — 
fill our-heatts with pleafwre or pain, and our 
flefh with conftant labour. With what wit 
feorn do you think thofe fouls, who are dif-_ 
amiffed from ftefh, look downgipon the hurries — 
and buftles of the prefent {tate in which we - 
are engaged ?* They: dwell in the full fight of 
thof glories which they hope for her¢oncanthy., 


é 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR.WATTS:: 43: 


and their intimate a¢quaintance with theplea-.. 
-. flares. of that upper world, and tlie divine fen- 
_fations that are raifed in them there, make: 
tem. contemn all the pleafures of this ftate,. 
and every thing belowheaven, Thisisa part. 
of eternal-lite ; this belongs, in fome degree,.. 
to every believer : for. he 1s not a believer that- 
is not got above this. world in.a good meal-- 
ure 5 he is not a’chriftian, who is not wean- 
ed, in fome degree, from this world’: ‘* For 
** this is our victory, whereby we overcome. 
‘« the world; even our faith.” 1 Febx,.v. 4, 
*« He that is. born of God; overcomes-the: 
“© world; he that.believes in Jefus, is born of 
“«God.”” Whence the argument is plain, he 
that believes in Jefus, the Son of God, over- 
comtes this prefent world!) And where-chrif-. 
tianity is raifed to a good degree of life ands 
power in the foul, where wetéethe chriftian: 
got near to heaven ; h¢.is, as it were, a fellow 
for angels, a-fit companion for the ‘* Spirits 
of the juft made perfect.” The affairs of this 
life are*beneatlhis beft defires and his hopes ; 
he engages hishand in. them fo far as God 
his Father appoints his duty; but he longs 
for the upper world, where his-hopes are gone 
before : ‘© When fhall Lbe entirely difmiffed 
/ “from this labour and toil? The gaudy. 
*« pléafures this world entertains me with, are. 
“-no entertainments to me ;. [ am weaned: 
'« from them, Iam born for above.” This.” 
4s. the language of that faith that. overcomes: 


44 THE PEAUTIES OF DR. war 


a 


~ 


thé world ; and faith, where it j 


truth im the foul, hath, in eager ites? 


effect ; and where it fhines units brightnefs, . 


, 


it hath, in a great degree, this fablime — 
accompanying it ;~or rather, (fhall Tay ?).- 
this piece of heavenlf glory. Pain and fick-. 
nefs, poverty and reproach, forrow and death 
itfelf, have been contemned by’ thofe that: 
have believed in Chrift Jefus, with much more: 


honour.to Chriflianity than ever masbronghit 
to other religions... 


SERMONS, e-fep pat 


4 


= 3 


INIMITABLE.PERFECTION OF THE “GOSPEL... 


: page: £5 Fae ge 
THE gofpel of Chrift is like a feal or fig 


-net,.of fuch divine graving, that no. created: 


power can counterfeit it; and when the fpirs 


“tof God has-ftamped this gofpel onthe foul, - 


there are fo many-holy and happy lines drawn: 


_or impreffed thereby, ‘fo many facred figna> 


tares and divine features: ftamped,on the — 
mind; that give certain evidence peat 


weagc fignet and a heavenly Operator. 


; , - MBRMONS, ¥. I. Pass 
: aol no Pte a Cabs 


oS pte Se Hy 


. 


 ‘PHE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS: 46. 


“PROSPECT OF DEATH. 


« HOW fhould we rejoice in actos of that. 


« hour that fhall releafe us from the finful.. 


« flefh.; .5 and when we fhall ferve God in {pi- 5 ; 


rit. without a clog, without a tempter !’? 
_ O, with what a relith of facred pleafure fhould. _ 


‘a faint read thofe words in 2 Cor. v. 8. 


_ * Abfent fromthe body, and prefent with. 


“the Lord?” Abfent trom this traitor,. 
this vexing enemy, that we conftantly carry 


about with us! Abfent from the clog and: 
_ chain of this finful flefh, the prifon ‘wherein. 
we are kept in conftant dark nefs, and are con-- 


- 


fined from God! Abfent from thefe eyess. 
that have drawn our fouls afar from God by- 
various temptations!’ And abfent from thefe: 


ears, by which we have been allured to tranf- . 
gteffion and defiling iniguities ! Abfent from- 


thefe lufis and. paffions, from that. fear and. 
that hope, that pleafure and that pain, that 
love, that defire, and anger, which are all.car-. 
nal, and feated in the fiefhy nature, and be-., 
come the fpring and oceafion of fo much fin 


and mifchief to our fouls in this. flate... 
_“ Abfent fromthe body, and prefent with, 
the Lord.” Methinks there is a heaven: 
contained in the firft part of thefe. words, 
~* Abfent from the body ;” and a double bap- 


ios in the laft, *¢ Prefent with the ‘Lond ed 


46 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTs: 


prefent with him who hath Ged" our fpirits ° 
through all the days of our chriftian conflict, 
and hath given us the final ‘Vidtory :” prefent 
with that God, who fhall eternally sdiiouce 
us to all holinefs, who {hall forever thine up- 
on us with his own beams, and make us con- 
_formable to his own holy! image 5 "prefent’ 
with that’ Lerd ‘and Saviour) ftom: ‘whom it’ 
_flrall‘not be ‘in the power ‘of all creatures’ to- 


~ divert or draw: us afide. 
SERMONS, Vv. 1. Pp. 9°. 


~ SUBSTANCE OF NATURAL [RELIGION , 


“-DOUBTLESS man seni know por be> 
leve, in the firft, place, that:there-is.a God, 
and ‘that this God 2s but Ones for God is too- 
"jealous of his honour and -dignity,.and too- 
much concerned in this important point, tor 
_lavith out happinefs, and his heavenly favours, 
on any perfon who makes other gods to be- 
come his rivals ; or who exalts a ereature, or 
a mere chimera, into the throne of God, He - 
mutt believe, alo, that God isa being of per- 
fect wifdem, power,.and goodnels,. and that 
he is the righteous Governor of the world. 

-Man mutt alfo- know, that he’ himfelf eo 
creature of God, furnithed with a facult of 
underftanding to perceive setamenay € Hi! 


WHE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 47 


ence between good and evil,in the moft im- 


portant inftances of it ; and-endowed with a 
will, which is a power to chu‘e or to refufe 
the evil or. the good ; that he is obliged to 
exert thefe powers or faculties in aright mar- 
ner, both towards God and towards himfelf, 
as well as hisneighbour. 1 do not infift up- 


on it, that he mult know thefe propofitions, 


explicitly, and in a_ philofophical »mannen ; 
but ne muft have fome fort of confciouinels 


of his own natural powers, to know and dif- 
tinguifh, to chufe or to refufe good or evil, : 


and mutt be fenfible of his obligations to in- 
quite and practice what is good, and to avoid 


- what ts evil. 


As for the duties that relate to God, man 
is obliged to worthip him with reverence, to 
honour him in his heart and life, on account 
of his wifdom and power manitefted in the 
world ; to fear his Majefty, to love him, and 
hope in his goodnefs, to give him thanks for 
what inftances of it he partakes of, to feek to 
him for what bleffings he wants, and to’ carry 


' it toward him as his Maker, -his Lord, and 


oO) > 


his Governor. | , 


He muft know aifo, that fince God. isa 

«¢ righteous Governor,” if he does not make. 

good men happy in this world, and the wick- 
ed miferable, thea there wuft be another 


world, wherein heiwill appoint fome: happt- 


nei for the good, and milery for the wicked’ 
| gt in general, that he will fome time or other 


+ 


{ 


(48. THE BEAUTIES/OF ‘DR. WATTS. 


diftribute rewards and punifhments toall per- 
fons, according to their behaviour: for this 
- has a-very confiderable influence into all ho- 
‘inefs of life, and every part of morality, which 
“awill hardly be practiced without thefe motives. 

As for the duties which relate to other men, 

_ every man mutt know and believe, that as he 
4s placed here among a multitude of fellow- 
-creatures of his own fpecies or kind, he is 
bound to practice truth or veracity, juftice 
~-and.goodne(s toward them, according to the 
feveral relations in which they may ftand, as 
a father, brother, fon, hufband, ‘neighbour, 
fubject, matter, fervant, buyer, feller, &e. 

And with regard to himfelf, he is bound 
ito exercife fobriety and temperance, and to 
maintain a due government over his appe- 
tites and paflions, that they run not into ex-— 
cefs:and extravigance. 

And finally, fince every man .n willfrequent- ) 
ly find himfelt coming fhort of his duty-to 
God and. man, and betrayed into fin by the 
ftrength of his temptations, : his appetites and | 
pafhons, i in the various occurrences of dife, he - 
muft repent of his fins, be fincerely for 
‘what he has done amifs, humbly afk forgi 
nefs of God, and endeavour to ferve and 
pleafe him-in all things for the time to come, 
vand he muft exercife a hope or truft i 
-mercy of God, that uponrepentance and new 
obedience, God will forgive Gaetan ee 
them again into his favour, © 

STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUM, RE AGO: 


~ 


| «SHE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 49 


/ THE MAN OF HUMILITY. 
» EUDOXUS. jis a. gentleman of exalted — 
‘~vittue and unftained reputation, every foul 
‘that knows him fpeaks well of him; he is fo 
-amuch honoured, and fo well beloved in hit 
nation, that he mutt flee his country, if he 
would avoid praifes, -Sofenfible is he of the 
fecret pride ghat has tainted human nature, 
‘that he holds: himfelt in perpetual danger, 
cand maintains an everlafting watch. He;be- 
haves now with the fame modefty as .when 
he was unknown and ob{cure. He receives 
the acclamiations of ‘the world with fuch an 
humble mein! and with fuch an indifference. 
of fpirit that is truly admirable and divine. 
“It isa lovely pattern but the imitation is not. 
taly.—I took the freedom one day to afk. 
-him,-how he acquired this wonderous humi-. 
‘lity, or whether he was born with. no pride’ 
about him? “ Ah, no (faid he, with a facred 
“ figh) Tfeel the workingpoifon, but I keep 
“‘ my antidote at hand; when my triends 
*<tell me of many good qualities and ‘ta-.: 
-“lents, I have learnt from St. Paul to fay, 
* What have I that I have not received ? My - 
«6 own confciouinefs of many follies and fins — 
‘ conftrains me to add, What have I that I 
4 bave not ia And then reafon 


a § 


- THERE ‘re fome though 


% 


~ 


$9 HE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


_ “and religion join together to {up srefs my 


“ vanity, and’ teach me. the proper language 
“* of a creature anda finners; What then bave 
* Ito glory in 2” peace iam 

4 | MISCEL. THOUGHTS, p. 56. 


ra ae = F : : 
4SHE BENEVOLENCE OF THE CREATOR. 


UPON the whole view of things, I think, 


- .from {cripture and reafon together, we may 


jaltly conclude, that where Chrift and the 
gofpel are not publifhed, all humble and fin- 
cere penitents, afking pardon of God, and 
hoping in his mercy, (though they know no- 
thing of the particular way ox method wherein 
it is, or hath been, or fhall berevealed) fhall 
not fail of pardon and acceptance with God 
at laft, nor mifs of fome tokens of his favour. 
This grace hath Jefus procured, and God 
will beftow it. as . 


STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HWMAN REASON. p, 28. 


> aiiyy 


OF THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR THOUGHTS. 


intrude upon us while we fhun them 3 there 
age others that fly front us, when we would 


~ e ei = 


at 
TRE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS.» Sr 


hold and fix them.—If the ideas-which you 
_. would willingly make the matter of your pref- 
ent meditation are ready to ily from you, you © 
muft be obftinate in the purfuit of them by 
an habit of fixed meditation; you muft keep: 
your foul to the work, when itts ready to ftart 
afide every moment, unlefS you will abandon 
yourfelf to-be.a flave to every wild imagina- 
tion. It is acommon, but it is a very unhap- 
py anda fhameful thing,that every trifle that 
comes acrols the fenfes or fancy fhould divert 
us, that a buzzing fly fhouid teaze our fpirits, 
and {catter our beft ideas : but we muft learn 
to be deaf to and regardlefS of other things,. 
befides that which we make the prefent fub- 
jet of our meditation ; and in order to help 
~ a wandering and fickle humour, it is proper 
~. to have a book or paper in our hands, which 
has fome proper hints of the tubject that we 
‘defign to purlue. We mutt be refolute and 
laborieus, and fometimes conflict with our- 
_ felves, if we wou'd be wife and learned. 
Yet I would not be too fevere inthis rule.. 
~ It maft be confeffed, there are feafons when. | 
the mind, or rather the brain, is over-tired or, 
jaded with. fudy and thinking ; or upen {omer 
_ other accounts animal. nature may be languid, 
or cloudy, and unfit to affift the fpirit in. 
meditation’;. at {uch feafons. (provided that 
they return not too often) it is better fome- 
times to yield to the prefent indifpofition.. 
_ Then you may think it proper to give your- 


oe. 


he en gies a Sal Tu aa bi. 
$2 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS, 


felf up to fome hours of leifure ind recreation. 
or ujeful idlenefs ; or if not, then” 
thoughts to fome other alluring: fabje@, and 
pore no longer upon the firft, till fome bright- 
er or more favourable moments.arife.” A ftu-. 
dent fhall do more in one hour, when all. 
things concur to inyite him to any fpecial 

fludy, than in four hours, at ara and im- 

proper ae 


LOGIC, p- 7 


OF THE ARRANGEMENT, oF OUR IDEAS. : Nh 


AS a trader who never places his megs in: 
“his thop of warehoule in a regular order, nor 
keeps the accounts of his buying and Aelling, . 
paying and receiving, in.a juft method, is in: 
the utmoft danger of plunging all his. affairs. 
mto confution, and ruin 3 {fo a fludent who is: 
in fearch of truth, or-an authot or. teacher wlio i 
communicates knowledge to others, will very 
miuch obftrué his defign, and confound his 
Own mind, or the minds of his hearers, unlefs ; 
he range his ideas injuft order. If we would. 
therefore become fuccefsful learners or teach- 
_ ets, we mutt not conceive things in aconfufed 
heap, but difpofe our ideas in fome certain’ 
method, which may be moft eafy and ufeful 
both for the sane eases and memory. 
LOGIE; B. 1ZZ.- 


(THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 53: 


A ERRONEOUS JUDGMENT, 
- WHERE there is wealth, equipage; and 
| Blendos, we are ready to call that man hap: 

- pys_ but we fee. not the vexing difquietudes- 
of his foul : and when we fpy.a perfon in rags 
ged garmi@hts, we form a, defpicable epinion 

’ of-hit too. fuddenly,; we can -hasdly: think 

- him either. happy or wife, our judgment is fo 
biafed by ontward’ and fenGble things... It 
-was through the power of this prejudice that 

- the Jews gejected our bleffed Saviour ; they: 

could not fuffer, themfelves to believe,that 

- the man whe appeared as the fon of a. carpen- 
ter was. alfo the Son of God. And becaufe- 
“St. Pavl was of little fature,.a mean pr efence,: 
and,his voice contemptible, fome, of the Co- 
vinihians were tempted to doubt whether he 
was infpired or no... This prejudice is cured: 
by a Jonger acquaintance with the world, and 
a jut, obfervation that things are dometimes: 
better and fometimes worle, than they appear 

to be. We.ought therefore to_reftrain, our 
exceflive forwardnels to form out opinion of 
perfons or things before we have opportunity 
to-fearch i into them more perfectly. 

LOGIC, p. 190, 
E2 


. 3 - ae . rai 
54 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS: . 


There is. fearce any thie in the world of* 
- nature or art, in the world of morality or Te- 
ligion, that is perfectly uniform. “There is a 
‘mixture of wifdom and folly, viceand virtue, 
good and evil both in men-and things. We 
fhould remember that fome perfons have great 
wit and little judgment ; others are judicious, 
but not witty: Some aré good humoured. 
without compliment ; others. all the 
formality of complaifance, but no good hu-. 
mour. We ought to know that one manmay” 
be vicious and learned; while another has vir= 
tue without learning; that many aman thinks 
admirably well, who has a poor utterance ;. 
while others have a charming manner offpeech,. 
but their thoughts are trifling and imperti-. 
nent. Some are-good neighbours, and cour-. 
teous and charitable towards men, who have- 
No piety towards God ;- others are truly reli- 
gious, but of morofe natural tempers. Some: 
excellent fayings are found in-very filly books, 
_and fome filly things appear in books of value. 
We fhould neither praife nor- difpraife by 
wholefale, but feparate the good front the e- 
vil, and judge of them apart : the accuracy 
ofa good judgment confifts in making ae 
difttinctions. . 


£08 oie 
ie 
 ¥ 


spy . 
THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. ~ 6S: 


|. THE POWER OF. ELOQUENCE. 


~WHEN a man: of eloquence fpeaks or: 
writes upon any fubject, we are too ready to: 
run into his fentiments, being {weetly and in-- 
fenfibly drawn by the fmoothnefs of his ha. 
rangue, and the pathetic: power of his lan-- 
guage. Rhetoric will varnith every error, fo» 
that it fhall appear im the-drefs- of truth, and 
put fuch ornaments upon vice, as to make it 
- Took like virtue. It isan art of wondrous and 
extenfive influence ; it ofterr conceals, ob-- 
feures, or overwhelms the: trath, and_ places. 
fometimes a grof§ falfehood in the moft al- 
luring light.. The-decency of action, the mu- 
fie oF the voice, the harmony of the periods, , 
the beauty of the ftile, and all the engaging. 
airs of the fpeaker, have often charmed the 
hearers into error, and perfuaded them to ap- 
prove whatfoever is propofedin fo agreeable 
a manner: “A. large affembly- ftands expofed: 
at once to the power of thefe prejudices, and’ 
imbibes them all. So Cicero and Demoffhenes 
made the Romans and the Athenians believe 
almoft whatfoever-they pleafed: 

The beft defence againft both thefe dangers, . 
ts to learn the {kill (as much as poffible, of — 
feparating our thoughts and ideas from words. 

‘and phrates, to judge ofthe things from their: 
ewn natures, and in their natural or juft relae 


e 


» - 


66 THE BEAUTIES: oF DRA WaTTs. 


tion to one another, abftradted toi. rat ule: 

. of language, and to maintain a fteady and: 

obftinate refolution, * to hearken to- nothing. 

but truth, in whatloever ftile or drets it ap- “ 

pense: 1) Te a BET See 
: 44 wh ae vi 1/2063, p. 197 ar 


‘ 
i 


OBEDIENCE TO THE LAWS. ‘nite 


THE correétion oramendment: of.the Bet 
ticular offender, is not the only end.of pu 
ifhment, but the-vindication of the w 
and juftice of the lawgiver, and his law, abd 
are like to_be iniu! RARE thelaws-continu-- 
ally broken afreth, if offences were. always, 
pafied by with impunity, and if the, oaks 
were always-pardoned upon repentance, ate 
is neceflary for a governor fometimes to tea 
his fubjects what an evil thing it i is to tran: 
grefs his law, by the proper punithment of 
thofe. who offend., ‘Tine Honour and.avthor-- 
ity ef government mutt be “fometimes fup-- 
ported and vindicated by fuch feverities ; and: 
though it may pleafe a fone acne 

to. pardon an offender, out of his good-. 
_. nels, when he is truly penitest yeaa ¢ ime 
yet no degrees of penitence.can affar ffare th 
fender that he {hall-certainly:and enti ly-he 
forgiven, or can claim forgivenels atthe ha cd 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR: WATTS, “57 


eat the: fovereign ; becdufe repentance ' thakes. - 
~ ‘Ro recompence at all forthe difhonour done 
' to the authority of the Jaw, and: of him that 
_ made it. His future cbedience’is all due, if 
_ he had never finned ; and therefore it cannot 
- eompentate for paft neglects and tranfgref- 


~ fions. 
"STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUMAN REASON, p. 62.” 


_ 
- - 
— 


SALVATION. PROCURED THROUGH THE MEDIA- 
TION: ‘OF Jesus CHRIST. — : 


i TAM ipertisatledy ‘that God never did or 
will forgive: ithe fins of any man :upon earthy, 
_ whether Jew, Heathen, or Chriftiany nor re- 
_ €cive any of our: finful ; rast it Ls: favour. 
but upon’ the account of what Jefus, Chrift 
lisdon, the! Mediator, has done and:fuffered,. 
- for the:atonement and expiation of fin, and 
the recovery of aman to the favour of: God + 
_ fo that if Heathens are faved, 1 think. itis 
owing to the»merit of Chrift, and his death: 
- There: is falvation im no other,:nor is 
« there any other name whereley. man may 
© be faved.*. If any of thofe who. never 
heard of. Chri ‘might be faved with= 
out the influence of his atonement and me= 
- diation, why might not they that have heard: 
ot him be bean without it alfo ? -Thus-there 


+ ere, Oe 

a ate 5 : 

\ ‘ ax Die am 
: s 


58 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


would be no need of him to become a medi-- 
ator, or to make atonement for the fins af 
one or the other, and thus: Chrift would have 
lived and died to very little purpofe. | 


STRENGTH AND WEAK. OF HUM. REASON, p. 1045 


SALVATION TO BE EXTENDED TO THOSE WHO» 
HAVE NOT BELIEVED IN OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR. 


- THOUGH I fuppofe no- man. fhall: be 
faved but by virtue of the mediation and 
death of Chrift, nor doth the gofpel permit 
me to allow falvatren to thofe who. wilfully 
and finally reje@ it,. under elear light and 
evidence ; yet there is good reafon to believe, 
that there have been many finners actually 
faved, who never believed in Jefus Chrift the 
Son of Mary, nor ‘ever heard of his name; 
nor bad any notion of his atoning dtath and: 
facrifice. Such were fome of the early def= 
cendants.of Noah,. who lived long before 
this name was known i the world, among 
whom we may reckon Abimelech king of the 
Philiftines, Melchifedec-king of Salem; Job’ 
in the land-of Uz,. with his four friends, and 
many others, who fearedGod, and wrought — 
rightcoufnefs : and. fuch. were many good. 
_men among the. Jews,.who might be made — 
partakers. of the benefits of the dea a ok 


¢ 


. Ay ‘i 8 
ia ‘ 


| --s SPHE BEAUTIES OF DRWATTS: gy 
te ‘ 
Chritt, and his facrifice; though they had no 
‘general notion of iduch a fort of Meffiah, 
or Saviour, as was to be made.a facrifice for. 
‘the fins of men: nor is this at, all incredible, | 
Mince St. Peter himfelf, who had been a dif- | 
ciple of Chrift fo Jong, did not believe this 
~ doctrine even a little before his mafter’s death, . 
when he complimented his mafter concern- 
ting his crucifixion, Mart. xv. 22. and faid, 
4¢ Be it far from thee, Lord, this hall not be 
unto thee.” | ! : 
Nor is it unreafonable to have the fame 
charitable thoughts concerning feverat other 
_ perfons of the heathen world, during the con- 
tinuence of the Jewith church and ftate, who 
had either maintained the knowledge of the 
true God, by tradition from Noah, or recov- 
ered it by converfe with)the: Jews, and wor- 
_ fhipped him as a God of jifftice and) mercy, 
with fear and hope: fuch was Cornelius the 
centurion, and Lydia, and feveral others, who" 
were called devout perfons, and fuch as fear- 
4 or worfhipped God, in the hiftory of the 
Atis, chap. x. 7. and) xvi. 14. xvii. 4. and x. 
2. And it ts poffible, that fince the firft 
_age of chriftianity there may have been fome 
-fach religious perfons, of this fame character, 
_‘who were faved, though they never heard the 
doctrine of Jefus Chrift; for if they had fo 
much religion as would have faved them be- 
_ fore that’ time, furely they fhall never be ex- 


el 


60, THE BEAUTIES OF/DR, WATERS. - 


cluded, from: ‘vation peabinia teens i 
the dodirine ot Chritt, if Pa. alte hie — 
in the reach of it”) » 4). 

_ ¢ STRENGTH nt ne nenbe ala 106. % 


Te ek 


x‘fvig WE 


THE BLESSINGS sratctersi')~ PROM PRAYER. 


THERE i is Gite a thing, as converte: nade 
God:im prayer, and it is the:life and pleafure . 
of a'pious foul ; without it we are no chil» 
tians; andshe that practiles it moft, isthe beft; 
follower of Chritt ; for our Lord {pent much: 
time in converte with: his Heavenly Father.’ 
"This:is balm t at-eafes the moft raging pains: 
of the mind, whe wounded con{cience 
comes‘to then feat, and finds pardon’ 
and peace there. This is the cordial that: 
revives and exalts ournatures, when the fpirtt, 
broken with forrows, and almoft fainting tov 
’ death, draws near tothe Almighty Phyfician, x 
and is healed and-refrethed, » The athe 
in heaven-is-our fureft. and {weeteft reft 
every hour of diftrefs and charlene abaliectia th 
this is‘our daily fupport and belief, bile awe 
are paffing through a world of temptations’ 
and hardfhips in’ the way to. the promifed» 
Jand. * It is good to: draw pemrione 
ae. Ixxii. 28. . tal 


CERMONS, VOL. 3 p. are 
re oe 


WHE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 6s 


‘LESSON OF HUMILITY, 


_ THINK what a numberlefS variety of 
queftions and difficulties: there are belonging 


to that particular fcience, in which you have | 


made the greateft progrefs, and how few of 
ahem there are in which you have arrived at a 
final and undoubted certainty ; excepting on- 
ly thofe queftions'in which ‘the pure and fim- 
ple mathematics, whofe theorems are demon- 
- ftrable and leave fcarce any doubt ; and yet 
_ even in the purfuit of fome few of thefe, man- 
kind have been ftrangely bewildered. 
Spend a few thoughts fometimes onthe 
puzzling enquiries concerning vacuums and 
‘atoms, the dorine of infinites, indivifibles 
-and incommenfurables in geometry, wherein 
there appear fome infolvable difficulties : do 
this on .purpofe to give you a more fenfible 
impreflion of the poverty of your underftand- 
ing, and the imperfection of your knowledge. 
This will teach you what a vain thing it isto 
fancy that you know all things, and will in- 
~ firuct you to think modeftly of your prefent 
attainments, when every duft of the earth, 
and every inch of empty fpace furmounts 
your underftanding, and triumphs over your 
-prefumption. .4rithmo had been bred up to 
accounts all his life, and thought himfelfia 


ee i ‘yy .& 7 
ee te 
a , 


> ' a es 
: a5 


62 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


complete mafter of numbers. But when re: 
was pufhed hard to give the Square-Root 
the number 2, he tried at it, and laboured 
Jong in millefimal fractions, till he confeffed 
there was no end of the enquiry ; and yet he 
jearnt fo much modefty by. this perplexing — 
queftion, that he .was abvaid to fay, “It was 
“an impoffible thing.” ”Tis fome good de- 
gree of improvement when we are airaid to 
de pofitive. 
Read the accounts of thofe vatt treafures 
- of knowledge which fome of the dead have 
pofiefied, and fome of the living do poffefs. 
Read and be aftonifhed at the almoft incred- 
ible advances which have been made in fci- 
ence. Acquaint yourfelves with fome per- 
fons of great learning, that by converfe among 
them, and comparing yourfelves with them, » 
you may acquire a mean opinion of your own . 
attainments, and may thereby be animated 
with new zeal, to equal them as far as poffi- 
ble, or to exceed : thus let your diligence be 
quickened by a generous and laudable emu- : 


AOD. 
% IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, PART I, PB. 8. 


wii s : 


> 


DOGMATISM “CENSURED. 


MAINTAIN a conflantwatch at ae 
againft a dogmatical ipirit : fix not -your af 
dent to any propofition ina firm ee 


THE BEAUTIES OP DR. WATTS. 63 


ble manner, till you have fome firm and-un~. 
“alterable ground for it, and_ till you have ar- 
-fived at fome clear and fure evidence ; till 
“you have turned the propofition on all fides, 
and fearched the matter through and through, 

‘fo that you cannot be miftaken. And 
even where you think you have full grounds 
_of aflurance, be not too early, nor too fre- 
quent, in expreffing this affurance in too 
“peremptory and pofitive a manner, remem- 
bering that human nature is always liable to 
_miftake i in this corrupt and feeble flate. 


IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, PART XD Pp. 18. 


A DOGMATICAL fpirit eee’ a matt 
to be cenforious of his neighbours, Every 
one of his opinions appears to him written as 
mt were with funbeams, and he grows angry 
that his neighbour does not fee it in the fame 
light. He is tempted to difdain ‘his corref- 
“pondents as men of low and dark underftand- 

“ings, becaufe they do not believe what he does. 


EMPROVEMENT-OF THE MIND, PART 1, F. 20. 


“MEDITATION. 


MEDITATION or Study includes all 
thole exercifes of the mind whereby we 
fender all the former methods ufeful for out 


— 


64 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS: 


increafe in true knowledge and wifdom. *Tis: 
by meditation we come to confirm our menr- 
ory of things that pafs through our thoughts. 
in the occurrences of life, in our own expe- 
Tiences, and in the obfervation we make ; “tis. 
by meditation that we draw various inferen- 
ces, and eftablifh in our minds general prin- 
ciples of knowledge: ’tis by meditation that’ | 
we coinpare the various ideas. which we derive: | 
from our, fenfes, or from the operation of our ~ 
fouls, and join them in propofitions. It is by: 
meditation that we fix in our memory what- 
foever we learn, and form our own judgment — 
of the truth or falfhood, the ftrength or weak- 
eefs of what others {peak or write. It is med- 
itation or ftudy that draws out long chains: — 
of argument, and fearches and finds deep and, - 
difficult truths which before lay concealed in: 
darknefs, bey, iaalaieies 
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, PART I, Pe 336 
ei tias eee 


sale cancun, 


OBSERVATION. “4 


IT is owing to obfervation that our mind 
... is furnifhed with the firft, fimple, and ‘com-- 
plex ideas. ’Tis this lays the ground-work 
and foundation of all knowledge, and makes ~ 
us capable of ufing any of the other methods. 
for improving the mind for.if we didnot - 


ie 


¢ 

9 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 65 

a attain a variety of fenfible and intellectual 
ideas, by the fenlation of outward objects, by 

the conicioufnefs of our own appetites and. 

_ paffions, pleafures and pains, and by inward 
experience of the actings of our own fpirits it: 
would be impoffible either for men or books 
to teach us any thing. It is obfervation that 
muft give-us our firft ideas of things, as it in- 
cludes in it fenfe and confcioufnels.. 

All our knowledge derived from obferya- 
tion, whether it b= of fingle ideas or of pro-- 
pofitions, is knowledge gotten.at firft hand. 
Hereby we fee and know things as they are,. 
or as they appear to us’; we take the impref- 
fions of them on our minds from the original: 
objects themfelves, which give a clearer and 
ftronger conception of things. Thefe ideas 
are more lively, and the propofitions (at leaft 
qn many cafes) are much more evident. 
Whereas what knowledge we derive from- 
lectures, reading, .and converfation, is but the 
copy of other snen’s ideas ; that is the pic- 
ture of a picture ; and ’tis one remove further 
from the original. bss. ig 
_ Another advantage of obfervation is, that 

- we may gain knowledge all the day long, and 
every moment of our lives, and every moment: 
of oar exiftence we may be adding fomething 
to our intellectual treafures thereby, except 

~ only while we are afleep ; and even then the’ 
remembrance of our dreamings will teach us 

; Pe ee 


« 


66 THE BEAUTIES.OF DRaWATTS, 


ie truths, and lay.a. foundation for a bates 4 
ter acquaintance with human sature both im. 
the powers and in the frailties.otit. 


IMPROVEMENT-OF THE MINDy PART 15 P. 34. — : 


ADVANTAGES OF READING. 


BY reading we acquaint ourfelves in a 
very.extenfive manner with the affairs, ac-. 
tions and. thoughts of the living and shies 
dead, in the moft remote nations, and in the. 
moft diftant ages 3. and: that. with as much, — 
eafe as though they lived in.our ownage and. - 

Nation. By “reading of books we may. learn. 
fomething from all parts of mankind ; where- _ 
as by obfervation. we learn from ourfelves,. 
and only \ what comes within our direct, cog- 
nizance : by converfation we. can.only enjoy; 
the affiftance of.a very few perfons, wiz. thole 
who are near us, and live at the fame time 
that we do ; that is, our neighbours and con+ 

_ temporaries. But our knowledge is ftill much — 
more narrowed .than if we confine ourfelves. 
merely to our own lolitary reafonings without. 

much obfervation or reading : for then all. 

our improvement. muft arife only. from our. 

own inward powers and meditations.’ — 
IMPRQOVEMENT_OF THE MIND, PART Be a2: 


. 


q “@HE BEAUTIES OF DR. WArTs. 67 


-. READING AND CONVERSATION CONTRASTED. 


_ BY reading we learn not only the actions 
and the fentiments of diftant nations and a-_ 
ges, but we transfer to ourlelves the knowl- 
edge and improvements of the moft learned 
‘men, and the wifeft and the beft of mankind, 
when or wherefoever they lived : for though 
many books have been written by weak and. 
injudicious perfons, yet the moft of thofe 
books which have obtained great reputation. 
tn the world, are the products of great and. 
wife men in their feveral ages and nations : 
whereas we can obtain the converfation and. 
inftruction of thofe only who are within the 
reach of our dwelling, or our acquaintance,_ 
whether they are wife or unwife ; and fome- 


times that narrow fphere {carce affords ahy ~ °° 


- perfon of great eminence in wifdom or learn- 
ing, unlefs our inftructer happen to have this. 
character. And as for our own f{tudies & med- 
itations, even when we arrive at fome good 
degrees of learning, our advantage for further 

‘improvement in knowledge by them is ftill 
far more contracted than what we-may derive 
from reading. . 

When we read good authors, we learn the 

_ beft, the moft laboured and moft refined fen- 

-timents even of thofe wife.and learned men 3. 

for they have ftudied hard, and committed: 


68° THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. - ’ 


to writing their matureft ’ thot hts, and the: 
refult of their long ftudy an experience + 
whereas by converfation, rire in fome lec- 
tures, we obtain many times only | the prefent 
thoughts of our tutors or friends, which- 
(though they may-be bright and ufeful) yet, 
at firit perhaps, may be fudden and indigeft- - 
ed, and are mere hints, which. have rifen to 
no maturity. 

’Tis another advantage of reading that we 
may revicw what we have read ; we may 
confult the page again and again, and medi- 
tate on it, at fucceffive feafons in our fereneft: 
and retired hours, having the book always at. 
hand : but what we obtain by converfation : 
and in lectures, is oftentimes loft again as foon: 
as the company breaks up, or at leaft when» 
the day vanifhes ; unlefs we happen to have 
the talent of a good memory, or quickly re- — 
tire and mark down.what remarkables we have~ 

‘ found in thofe difcourfes. And for the fame. 

reafon, and for want of retiring and 4 
many a learned man has loft feyeral ‘ufeful. . 
meditations of his own, and could never re-- | 
call them again. | : 


“IMPROVEMENT oF THE rms, 3 PART % P. se k 


ee ee a et 


VERBAL. INSTRUCTION. 


THERE is fomething more ‘{prightly,.. 
more delightful and ee in the: living. 


a 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 6g. 


~ difcourfe of a wife, a learned, and well-quali- 
~ fied teacher, than there is in the filent and fe- 
_ dentary practice of reading. .The very turn: 
of voice, the good pronunciation, and the po- 
_ lite and alluring manner which fome teachers 
-have attained, will engage the attention, keep: 
_ the foul fixed, and convey and infiquate into- 
the mind, the ideas of things in a more lively: 
and forcible way, than the mere reading of 
books in the filence and retirement of: the- 
_ clofet. es e : 
g ‘ ‘IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, PART 8, P. 33. 


s — : : = = : 


CONVERSATION. 


- WHEN we converfe familiarly with a: 
learned friend, we have his own-help at hand — 
_ to explain to us every word and fentiment 
that feems obfcure in his difcourfe, and to in= 
- form us of his whole meaning, fo that we are 
in much lefs danger of miftaking his fenfe 
whereas in books whatfoever is really obf{cure, 
may allo abide always obfcure without reme- 
dy, fince-the author ts not at hand, that we 
may inquire his fenfe. 
_ ._ If we miftake the meaning of our friend in 
- conyerfation, we are quickly fet right again ;. 
but in reading we many times go on in the: 
. fime miftake, and are not capable of recov- 


m< 


72 THE BEAUTIES OF DRe Watts. 


ering ourfelves from it. Thence it comes te 
pafs that we have fo many contelts in all ages’ 
about the meaning of ancient authors, and 
efpecially facred writers. Happy fhould we 
be, could we but converfe with Mo/es, J/aiab 
and St, Paul, and confult the prophets and — 
apoftles, when we meet with a difficult text! — 
But that glorious converlation is referved for ; 
the ages of future blefiedneds. 3 woe 


“BMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, PART 1, P. 40. 


Converfation calls out into light what has” 
been lodged in all the receffes and {ecret 
chambers of the ‘foul. By occafional hints 
and incidents it brings old ufeful notions into 
remembrance ;*it unfolds and difplays the 
hidden treafures of knowledge with which 
reading, obfervation and ftudy had before fur- 
nifhed the mind. By mutual difcourfe, the 
foul is awakened and allured to bring forth 4 
its hoards of knowledge, and it learns how tor 
render them moft ufeful to mankind. Aman — 
of vaft reading without converlation is like a 
mifer, who lives-only to himielfig- 9 

In free and friendly converfation‘oar intel- 
Jectual powers are more animated, and our 
fpirits a& with a fuperior vigour mthe queft _ 
and purfuit of unknown truths. Phere isa 
fharpne(s and fagacity of thought that attends : 
converfation beyond what we find whilft we 
are {hut up reading and mufing in our re- — 
tirements, Our iouls is be ferene in foli- 


aid 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 71 


fende but not fparkling, though perhaps we 
are employed in reading the works of the 
brighteft writers. Often has it happened in 
free difcourfe, that new thoughts are ftrange- 
dy ftruck out, and the feeds of truth fparkle. 
and blaze through the company, which in 


calm and filent reading would never have been — 


excited. By converfation, you will both give 
and receive this benefit ; as flints, when pit. 
jnto motion and ftriking againft each other, 


_ produce living fire on both fides, which would 


never have rifen from the fame hard materials 
in a ftate of reft. 

In generous converfation amongft ingeni- 
ous sieich learned: men we have a great advan- 
tage of propofing our own opinions, and of 
bringing our own fentiments to the teft, and 


_ learning in a more Compendious way what 


the world will judge of them, how mankind 
will receive them, what objections may be 
railed againit them, what defeéts there are in 
our fcheme, and how to correct our own mif- 
takes; which advantages are not fo eafy ob- 
tained by our own private meditations : for 


' the pleafure we take in our own notions, and 


the paffion of felt- -love, as well as the narrow- 


_-nefs of our own views, tempts us to pafs too 


favourable an‘opinion on our own fchemes ; 
whereas the variety of genius in our feveral 


P affociates, will give happy notices how our 


oe 


ae will ftand in the view of mankind. 


“is alfo another confiderable advantage of 
& 


¢ a 
72 THE BEAUTIES OF DR, WATTS. 


-converiation, thatit furnithes the ftudent $e. 
the knowledge of men and the affairs of hife, | 
as reading furnifhes him with book-learning. 
A man who dwells all his days among, books — 
may have amaffed together a waft heap.of no-_ 
tions, but he may-be a mere {cholar, mich 
‘a contemptible fort of character in the world. 
A hermit who has been fhut up in his cellin 
-a college, has contracted a fort of mould and 
raft upon his foul, and all his airs of behaviour ” 
have a certain aukwardnels in| them : but 
thefe aukward airs are worn off by degrees in” 
company : the ruft and the mould: are’ filed : 
and bruthed off by polite converfation. The . 
icholar now becomes a citizen ora gentleman, — 
a neighbour and a friend 5 he learns how to 
drefs his fentiments in the faireft colours, as. 4 
swell as to fet them in the faireft light. Thus 
he brings out his notions with honour, he 
makes. fome ufe of them-in the. world, and : 
improves the theory by practice. Hee 


_ . IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, PART 3, P. 42. if 


“HATRED REPROVED, AND LOVE OF own FELLOW. j 
_ CREATURES RECOMMENDED. Sot pedy, 

oh Was eee. * 

CONSIDER. whether ‘the perfons: oe 


hhate are good or not. Tf they are gc od a 
pes, your hatred has a donk gai a it, 


cl 


“* 4 
THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 73 


-fince you are bound to love them both as 
m *n and chriftians. Will you hate thofe 
whony God loves? Will you hate thofe who 
Shave the image of. Chrift, and in whom. 
the. Spirit of God inhabits? df they have _ 
‘any blameable qualities in them, let your — 
charity caver thofe faults and follies: let 
-your thoughts rather dwell upon their virtues, 
and their facred relation to God. - This will 
have a: happy influence to turn your hatred 
into love. ‘Tiink of them as members of 
‘Chrift, and you cannot hate them if yousare 
of that blefled body. 

_ If they are perions who negle& religion, 
and have not the fear of God, yet they may 
‘have fome good qualities.in them, fome mo- 
tal or focial) virtues, or fome. natural excel- 
Jencies, which-may merit your efteem, and 
invite your love : at leaft thefe agreeable 
‘qualities may diminifh your averfion, and a- 
‘bate your hatred. I confefs it is the nature 
of malice and envy, to overlook all that is 
‘good and amiable in a-perfon,and to remark 
only what is evil and hateful : but: this is* 
not the fpirit and temper of a Chriftian, nor 
of Jefus Chrift our mafter, There was a 
young man who loved his riches fo well, that 
the refufed to become.adifeiple ; yet eur blef- 
ded Lord faw fomeygood. qualities. in® him); 
“he. looked upon shim, :and doved. him,” 
Wark x.-21.: opr a iee 


3 Gai ioe idan aL Wig 


€ 


aa Pe ee” 


~ 


44 THE BEAUTIES oF bivaseEs: 


But if the perfons whiotn yi nee, Bi hay 
“nothing good: in them: that “you can find 
then they ought to be pitied ‘rather than'to 
be hated: they are’ not worthy of. _your en- 
vy, nor do they need the punithi nent of y | 
malice in this world, who expofe tthetulelves 
to the wrath and vengeance no God in ‘the 

. . world to come. 

Will you fay, they are fo. impious before 
God, and fo injurious’ to men, that they de- 
“-ferve to be hated ?: ‘But ‘confider, if you were 
but punithed in every refpect as you deferve, 
both for your offences againft God and man, 
what would become of you? Pity then 
therefore as you hope for pity. Imitate the 
goodnefs of “ your Heavenly Father, who 
« makes his fun to thine, ‘ana bis Megs ‘to. fall 
on the juft and on the unyatt.”’ “This i is 
the ine of Chrift: . -ereh aie iatemnd 


DOCTRINE or 4g Pee d 
oe 
ote 2 vise fie eee 


FEAR. is a powell ‘ancb?ttfefad paffion, 
A ky us from mifchief and mifery, te 
‘eh our avoidance of every” danger,’ te 
drive us to our refuge, and to'reftrain™ 
every thing which has a tendency to DI 
evil or michief upon us. sen 


1B? 
errs t 
a? 


WHE BEAUTIESOF DR. WATTS 75 
_ The anger of God is the moft proper ob-_. 


iH ea of our fear,.as we are finful creatures : 
mor.canfinners fear the anger of God too 
.much, until they have complied with the 
Fe P appointed methods of his grace.. There is 
_alfo a. reverence, and holy fear due to the 
* Majefty of God,. even when we have obtain- — 
'. ed the moft folid hopes of his mercy: we 
mutt always’ fear to fin againft God, and | 
keep up a holy jealoufy of all temptations to 
fin. All this is called religious fear. 


By Ne i BOCTRINE OF THE- PASSIONS, P. II4. 


ee ae 


UNREASONABLE FEAR. 


BUT the ober which I {peak ae this place 
iS an unjaft and unreafonable fear of any - 
“creature whatloever, or of any occurrences 
in life: it is a timorous fpirit, which fubjects 
the whole nature to the power and tyranny of 
the paffion _ of fear, beyond all reafonable 
grounds : “as for inflance, a fear of being a- 
Joné, or in the dark ; a perpetual fear oP es 

_. vilaccidents by fire or water, or wicked men; 
a difquieting fear of ghofts and apparitions ; 
of little inconfiderable animals, fuch as fpid- 
ers, frogs,, or worms ; unreafonable and anx- 
fous fears. of the lofs of eftate or friends ; 
ak fj poverty or calamity of any kind,. 


a ae aa 


76 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


whereby we are too often reftrain | from our 
prefent duty, and our lives are r very un- 
comfortable. All manner of fear becomes: 
irregular when it rifes’ to am exceffive de 
gree, and is fuperior to the danger. 


POCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS, P. 116.) 


AGAINST HASIY DETERMINATION, 


ke HASTY determination of fome uni- 4 
erfal principles without a due furvey of all” 
the particular cafes which may be included i 

in them, is the way to lay a trap for our own, 
wnt saneD oes 2 in the purfutt of any dubject,. : 
and we fhall often be taken captives Ippon ites | 
take and falthood- 
; IMPROV: OF THE MND, ee, Feast ae 


Pak 


a ie A iy 

t 2S ey ‘Shhyes 

SSeS Se ee ee 
< - * ‘ ‘ “4 ab i! 

PROFITABLE, METHOD OF READING dra . 


MENDED. 


-BOOKS. of importance of “any ind a 
n 


efpecialiy compleat treatifes om ai 
thould be firft read in = ore ae and cur.» sh 


fory manner, to Jearna little what the treatife 
promifes, and what you may expect from the — 


% - 


Ls 
: 


‘THE BEAUTIES OF DR.WATTS.. 77% 


writer’s manner and ‘kill. ‘And for this end 


FE would: advife always, that the preface be 


_read, and a furvey taken of the table of con- 


tents, if there be one, betore this firft furvey’ ~ 
of ‘the book. By this means you:will not. on- 
ly be better fitted to give the book the firft 
reading, but you willbe much affifted in your: 
fecond peruial of it, which fhould be done: 
with greaterattentionand dehberation,and you: 
will learn with more eafe and readinefs what 
the author pretends te teach.’ In your read- - 
ing, maik, what is new or unknown to you: 
before, and review thofe chapters, pages or 
paragraphs. Unilefs a reader has an uncom- 
mon and moft retentive memory, I.may ven- 
ture to affitm,-that there is fcarce any beok: 
or chapter worth reading that is not worthy 
a fecond perufal. At leaft take a: careful re- 
view of all the lines or paragraphs which you: 
marked, and make a recolle&tion of the fec-- 
tions which you thought traly valuable... 
There is another reafon ao why F would: 


- ehufe' to take a fuperficialand eurlory furvey~ 


ef a book, before F fit down to read-it, and: 
dwell upon it with fludicus-attentiom ; and: 
that: is, that. there may be feveral difficulties 
ii it which we cannot eéafily underftand and: - 
eonquer at the firft reading, for want of a _ 
fuiler comprehenfion of the author’s: whole: - 
feheme. And‘-therefore infuch treatifes-we- 


_ hould not ftay till'we-mafter every difficulty 


= 


78 | THE brava ov Date 


at the firft perufal ; for'p 
would appear to be foh 


proceeded farther in’ thatrbo , 
vanith of ‘themfelves upon ond reading. © 
ov What. we cannot) reach! atid . penetrate iat | 
firft aiay: be: resin It nome rm 
‘confideration: and the pages'that 
follow do. not taboo to ftrike a compleat: : 
light 7 thofe which:went»beforess »: 0 7 

ne? IMPROV, ‘ov "7A slixb) FARA 66" ‘ 
Gent igo cl we basis tees sity 
Hoe ob coo.cge a Wee Ms sities earners ge ; 


saat waaay ah Site & a8 wa ¥ on re are y 
eS ek ke te, -# 4 ri Bet Rie RE : 


pasa OF CONVERSING WaT MEN OF) VAR 
» RIOUS »COUNTRIES,» AND: ee 
~ regi »TIES,, OF INIINGE ,AND: 
Yop sea F SN 
" CONEINE not, yourfelues-always.to-one_ 
fort of. company, or « to, perfons- of tl the fam 
party, or opinion, either m: rer 3 of learn-- 
ing,, religion,, or, the. ci ie, et yan 
fhould happen to. be n 
in, early miftake, you, fhould be pine tte 
and. eftablithed 4 in the fame miflake, by gone 
veifing only with: pesfons. ual fame. fenti- - 
ments. Acree ; and, general,  converfation i 
with .meny of. various, count ries, anc 
different. parties,,. opinions, and practices (fo 
tar as may be done. fafely) \is of excellent ufe: 
to undeceive. us in many. wrong judgn 


‘THE! BEAUTIES OF DRI WATTS. 7 


“saihitchewe inay vhave’ framedy and ‘tordead us. 
‘into jufter thoughts. '-It- is faid,.wheno the 
| -king of Siam,‘ near ‘China, firft’ conyerfed 
with fome European merchants; who fought 
_ the favour! of -trading: on) his» coaft,ihe-en+ — 
Jquired’ of «theny fomelsofi thé: commiohyap- | 
spearances’ of fummer and winter in their coun- 
try sant. when they told him of water grow- 
dng:fo hard ine their rivers,othat. men! and 
horlés;.and laden? carriages:pafied over it, and 
“that -rainfometimes fell dowm as’ white and 
Jigbeas teathers;and fometimes almoft as hard 
as ftones,-he'could not»believea fylable he faid, 
forticey {now and hail, were names and things 
utterly unknown tohimyand to his fubjectsan 
«that: hot*climate + he therefore | renounced all 
_ ‘traffic with fuchifhameful lars,and would: not 
fuffer them totrade with his: people.-Seehere 
the naturale ffects:of igrofs ignorance. © 
.Converfation _ with: foreigners) (On various. 
~eccafions® has: a happy) influence:to enlarge 
our minds and to fet them. free. frony many. 
“errors: and grofs. prejudices we: are’ eee po: 
_imbibeconcerning, themslorras ody daiy 20011 


$9 QUI 15 IMPROV. oF Ta any bans Ke pe 125. 
qh hare settee. wic Ne cae 


Tone Paes i reat y 3 ee Ref WeEE r oF) feat rf ft 0 3 
oo ‘RENDER sibineiieinss inbrRucTove! 
enteehods togaper 


e “EO- aaske: SE oeaieet meres subleadble- 
aad: wes whether. it- be. ina defigne d or 


igh EE ue i 
50 THE BEAUTIES OF PR. WATTS. ; 


accidental vifit,,among perfons af the: ite 
or different fexes, after the neceflary faluta~ 
tions.are finifhed, and the: ftream: of com~ | 
mon. talk begins to hefitateyon fuss fiat and’. 
low, let fome one perfon ‘take a book which: 
maybe agreeable tothe whole:company,.andi | 
by common confent | let! him» fead. in ititen- | 
lines, or a paragraph on two,or.d-few pages, 
till: fome word: or jentence gives.oceafion for | 
any of the company to offer a theught.or: | 
two relating to that fabjeéis interruption of 
the reader fhould: be no blame; ior converfa~ - 
tion is the bufinefs 5. whether: it be tex cons - 
firm what the author fays, or to: improve ity.” 
to enlarge upon it, orto correct it, to objec 
againftt it,-or:to afle any qu queftion.thatis a-kin: — 
tovit;, and let: everyoone: ‘that: pleafe addi 
their opinion,.and promote:the converlation:. — 
When the difcourfe finksagain: of:diverts;to — 
trifles, let him» that. reads purfae the page,. 
and read:on further paragraphs~or pages;. til’ 
_ fome: occafion: is.given ‘by: a wordon a: fen> 
tence.for a. new difvourle;to be» ftanted,. andy 
that-with the utmoft:eafe: and treedom::Such- 
a method. as this would. prevent the hours of 
a vifit from running all to wafte ;. and by: 
this means even.among {cholars they will fel+ 
dom find oceafion for that: too juftand bitter 
reflecaons 4¢ [have loftemy. ‘time in:theccom-- 
“pany. of the learned.” be tii 
By fuch:practiee: asthis® is ES 
may. very honourably, and agyecably improve « 


al 


\ 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. $1 


‘their hours, while one applies herfelf to réad= 
ing, the others employ their attention, even . 
among the various artifices of the needle ; 
but Jet all of them make their occafional. re- 
marks or enquiries.’ This will guard a 
good deal of that precious time from modifh 
trifling impeftinence or fcandal, which might 
otherwife afford matter for painful repent- 
ance... i P30 i i” 
~ Obferve this rule in general; whenfoever 
it lies in your power to lead the converfation, 
let it be directed to fome profitable point of 
knowledge or practice, fo'far as may be done 
with décency 3 andlet not the difcourfe.and 
the hours be fuffered to'run loofe without aim 
or defign ; and when a fubjec& is ftarted, pafs 
not haflily to another, before ¢ you ‘have 
brought the prefent theme! of difcourfe to 
fome tolerable iffue, or a joint confent to 
drop it. BEES (Man Ars } ee % is 3 aa 


) 9) AMPROVEMENT oF THE MIND, PART 1,7. 129) $ 


id 


e 


SS a 
v ‘res A : { ete Laas 
" EXHORTATION AGAINST EXCESSIVE SORROW. | 
LET not your thoughts dwell continual 
ly upon your diftreffes and afflictions. Suf- 
fer not the chamber of your fouls to be ev- 
er hung round with dark and difmal ideas : - 
ehew not always the worm-wood and the 


ee ee 


> 


€2 THE BEAUTIES OF:D: 


“gall, 3. but: remember | th f 
mercies you venjoy, and: Feeie sions yf 
“grace in the gofpel, ; the: immoral 
_bleffings of pardon of ry and ‘eternal life; 
the’ love of God, «amd the hope. of -heaven, 
Look fometimes: on thele brighter {cenes ;. 
fuffer not your forrow: to. bury all your. patt 
and prefent:comforts:im- darknef§,. and) obli- 
vion. Thankfulnefs is oneyway to joy. ~~ 
Remember, if you are a Chriftian indeed, ; 
ie fprings of your grief. cannot. flow. long 
the hour of death will -dry them. valk 
The lait nioment of ‘this mortal life is‘a « 
_ tam-and final. period of-forrow: Conv 
much among the -manfions ‘and-joys*of ; 
invifible world and your hope which 
‘up ‘there : the very gleamings o of t! 
.will brighten: the darkeft -p 
welieve the foul under its deft 
Compare your miferies with yi 
then you will thinkethemdig ; 
learn then to bear your burdens with 
ferene and peaceful mind, and turn you 
rows intorepentance for fim © But, Se 


excufe, our fins: “weheyeas fi 

exu lighter, if we did” dae oe 
much, heavier ; evils we have 
——— eholy and offend 


ots | sees 


THE BEAUTIES-OPDR. WATTS, -83 


: - No eS ee te eet 
siv2et tigate SB Ad ¢ u 4, 


ee 


if shee oe, 2 Bosal 
Da $ P U ft, pAgd it. a cee 


” 


“GREAT. care alll be Aakcdhe left ‘yon 


Bebates: break in upon your paffions, and a2. 
waken them te take part im the controverfly. 
‘When the opponent pufhes‘hard, and” gives 


jutt and mortal wounds to our own opinion, 
our ‘paffions are very apt to feel the ftiokes, 
and to rife:in: refentment and defence.” * Seif 
is fo mingled with the fentiments which we 
have: chofen, and has fach a tender fecling of 
all the oppofition: whichis made to them, 
that’ perfonal brawls are: Very‘ready to‘come 
in asfeconds to fucceed'‘and finifhthe dif. 


pute of opinions. Then noife' andclamour — 


and folly appear in all their fhapes, and hae 
reafon and ‘truth out of fight. 


IMPROVEMENT oF TRE MIND, Pe 366: 3 


< fe 


a 2 bene be iu sh hehe ~ we . 


ACADEMICAL DISP dag ea fo 


hehe . 
en dS 


vantages: to be attained: by-academical dif- 
-putation. © It gives vigour” and brifknefs to 
the mind) thus. exercifed, and. relieves. the 


. Svs 
- ‘eS 
: : 


Jes S55 
ys EL 
_ é 


4,\7%° 


ao i fees be ‘cohk hal ABeE a are Goi ads 


Ss 


84 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


languor of private ftudy and meditation. Tt 
fharpens the wit and all the inventive powers. 
It makes the thoughts active, and fends them 
on all fides to find nts and anfwers 
both for oppofition aud defence.” It gives 
opportunity of viewing the fubjyect of dif- 
courfe on all fides, and of Jearning what in- 
conveniences, difficulties and objections at- 
’ tend particular opinions. It furnifhes the. 
- foul with various occafions of ftarting- fuch 
thoughts as otherwife wouldnever have come — 
into the mind. It makes a ftudent -more 
‘expert in attacking and refuting an:error,. ole 
_well as in vindicating a truth. It inftructs a» 
{cholar in the various methods of warding of — 
the force of objections, and.of difcoverin g — 
and repelling the -fubtil tricks of | 
Ic procures alfo a freedom and readinefs of 
fpeech, and raifes the modeft and seem 
genius to a due degree of courage. | 

But there are fome very grievous, inconve- . 
aiencies that may fometimes overbalance- all 
thefe advantages. For many young ftudents 
by a conftant habit of difputing, grow im- 
pudent and audacious, proud and difdainful, 
talkative and impertinent, and render them- — 
felves.intolerable by an obftimate humour of 
maintaining whatfoever they have aflerted, 
as well as by: a {pirit of contradiction; oppol- 
ing almoft every thing almoft every: thing 
they hear. ‘The: difputation itfelf-often a- 
wakens the paflions of ambition; émulation, 


THE BEAUTIES OF ‘DR. WATTS.,- Rice 


‘gud anger; it carries away the mind from 
C30 calm and fedate ‘temper which is,fo ne- 
reeflary to contemplate truth. 


IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, PART Jy.?. he 


GF FIXING THE ATTENTION. 


A STUDENT fhould labour by all prop- 
er micthods. to acquire.a fteady fixation of. 
thought. Attention isa very neceflary thing 
in order to improve our minds. The evi- 
dence of truth does not always appear imme-_ 
diately, nor ftrike the foul at firft fight. ’Tis 
by long attention and infpection that we. ar- 
Yive at Mederices and it is-for want of it we 
judge falfly of many things. We make hatte 
to judge and determine upon a flight and fud- 
den view, we confirm our guefles which arife 
from a glance, we pals a judgment while we 
have but a contufed or obfcure perception, 
and thus plunge ourfelves into miftakes. ‘This 
is like a man, who walking in a mift, or being 
at a great diftance from any vifible object, 
(fuppofe a tree, a man, a horfe, or a church) 
judges much amifs of the Agure and fituation 
and colours of it, and fometimes takes one for 
the other; whereas if he would but withhold 
his judgment till he come nearer to it, or flay’ 


> : aed 


$6. THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. — 


til clearer light comes, and then would fix 
his eyes longer upon it, he would fecure him- 


felf from thofe miftakes. 


IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, PART 1, P. 211. 


Mathematical {tudies have a ftrange influ- 
ence towards fixing the attention of the mind, — 
and giving a fteadinefs to a wandering difpo- 
fition, becaufe they deal much in lines, figures — 
and numbers, which affect and pleafe the © 


fenfe and imagination. Hiftories have a 


ae ss 


ftrong tendency the fame way ; for they en- — 
gage the foul by a variety of fenfible occur- ~ 
rences ! when it hath begun, it knows not — 


how to leave off ; it longs to know the final 
event through a natural curiofity that belongs 
' to mankind. Voyages and travels and ac- 


counts of ftrange countries and ftrange ap- — 
pearances will affift in this work. This fort — 
of ftudy detains the mind by the perpetual. 


occurrence and expectation of fomething new, 


and that which may gratefully ftrike the im- — 


agination. 


“ 


OF SCIENCE, 


THE beft way to learn any {eience is to : 
begin with a regular fyftem, ora fhort and . 
plain {cheme of that {cience, well drawn up — 


IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND) PART Jy P. 212. 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. BF 


into @ narrow compafs; omitting the deep ox 


more abftrufe parts of it, and that alfo under 


the conduct and ifiruthion of fome fkilfol 


‘teacher. Syftems are neceflary togive an en- 


tire and comprehenfive view of the. feveral 


» parts of any fcience, which may have a mutu-- 
al influence toward the explication or proof 


ef each other: whereas if a man deals atways 


and only in effays, and difcourfes on particu- 
lar parts ofa fcience, he will never obtain adif- 


tinét and juft idea of the whole, and may per- 
haps omit fome important part of it, after 
feven_ years reading of fech occafional dif- 


_ courfes, For this reafon, young ftudents 


fhould apply themfelves to their fyftems much 
more than pamphlets, ‘That man is never 


fit to judge of particular fubjects relating. to 


any fcience, who has never taken a furvey ce) 
the whole. 

’Tis the remark of an ingenious. writer, 
fhould a barbarous Indian, who had_ never 
feen a palace or a fhip, view their feparate and. 


_ disjointed parts, and obferve the pillars, doors, 


windows, cornices and turrets of the one, or 


_ the prow and ftern, the ribs and matts, the 
- ropes and fhrowds, the fails and tackle of the 


other, he would be able to form but a very 
lame and dark idea of either of thofe excel- 
lent and ufeful inventions. In like manner, 


thole who contemplate only the fragments or 


pieces broken off from any {cience, difperfed 


~ ip fhort unconneéted. difcourfes, and do net 


$8 rhe BEAUTIES OF DE. “WATTS. 


difcern their relation to each other, and how 
they may be adapted, and by their union pro- 
cure the delightful fymmetry of a regular 
{cheme, can never furvey an entire body of 
truth, but mouft always view it as deformed ~ 
and diftempered ; while their ideas, which * 
muft be ever indiftin& and often repugnant, — 
will lie in the brain unforted, and thrown to- — 
' gether without order or coherence: fuch is © 
the knowledge of thofe men who soe or 
the {craps of {cience. | ie 


IMPROVEMENT OF THE MRD, PART Ty r. pe ee 


~ 


REASON A PRINCIPAL SOURCE « OF RELIGION. 
sa : 
3 


HUMAN reafon i is the firtt ground, 
{pring of all human religion. Manis ob 
to religion becaufe he isa reafonable > creature i 

‘Reafon dire€&ts and obliges us not o os 
fearch out and practice the will of Gea.s 
far as natural confcience will lead 1 us, but alfo 
to examine, receive, and obey, all the: tevela~ | 
tions which come frony God, where we are — 
placed within the reach of thei. proper: evi- 
dences. Wherein foever’ revelation gives us 
plain and certain rules for our condyd, reafon 
itfelf obliges us to fubmit and follow them: — 
Where the tules of duty are more obfeure, Hh: 
we are to ufe our reafon to find ies out, as 


“THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS, 89 


' far as we can, by comparing one part of reve-- 
lation with another, and making juft and rea- 
- fonable- untesenicogicn the various citcum- 
 ftances and connections of things. In thofe 
"parts or circumftances of religion where rev- 
elation is filent, there we are called to betake 
_ ourlelves to reafon again as our beft guide and 


~ conductor. 


Seay FOUND, OF A CHRIST. CHURCH, P. 5. 


eee ADORATION OF THE ALMIGHTY. 


THE feveral atts of worfhip ork the 
light of nature directs us to pay to the great 
God, are fuch as thefe: To adore him with 
all humility, on the account of his glorious 
perfections, and his wonderful works of pow; 
er and wifdom ; to join together in prayer to, 
God for fuch bleffings as we ftand in need of, 
to confefs our fins, and afk the forgivenefs of. 
them, to acknowledge his mercies, and give 
thanks to his goodnefs ; and to fing with the 
voice to his honour and praife. _- 
_ The light of nature directs us alfo to feek 
continually a further acquaintance with the 
nature and will of that God whom we worth- 
ip, in order to practice our duty the better, 
and SS our Creates, and to betes: wee 
di 2) 


#. 
bad 


(90 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WaATTs. | 
way for the further inftrudtion. of thofe who | 
are ignorant of that religion, and to. come in- 
to their affemblies to be iimftructed : a : 
the exhortation of the people to fulfil their | 
duty to God and their neighbours. “And if 
there are any {pecial rites or ceremonies, fuch’ 
as belong to focial worfhip, the light of na= | 
ture tells us, that here'they ought to be Lent) 
formed. q 
And does not the New Teftament fet all 4 
thefe matters before us fo plainly and. fre- | 
quently, with regard to chriftianity, that E © 
need not ftand to cite chapter and verfe, — 
where thefe things are practifed by the apof- — 
tles, and the primitive chriftians, m their 
aflemblies ? Here adoration, prayer, and — 
thank{givings, are offered up to God, but in 
the name of Jefus, as their only Mediager’s sa 
here their addreffes are made to God, with- 
one mind; and with one mouth, to the 7 
of God, who is the God and Father of our 
Lord Jetus Chrift ;. here pfalms, and hymns,. 
and {piritual fongs, are fung to the honour of 
_ the Creator and Redeemer : here the word’ _ 
of God-is- preached: for the inftruétion of the 
ignorant or unbelievers, who come into the 
chriftian affemblies, that finners’ ‘or infidels. 
may be converted, and chriftians-edified, and: 
exhorted: to perfift in the faith, andi Improve 
in holinefs, 1 Cor. xiv. 23: Here the’ great. j 
ordinance of chriftian communion, the Lord’s | 
fupper, is celebrated, by Mie. ame 


- 


_ THE BEAUTIES, OF DR. WATTS. OL 


 eeiving bread and wine,.and eating and drink- 
_ing in remembrance of their common Saviour, 
aad his death, 1 Cor. xi. 20, ce. As for the 
‘other ordinance, viz. Baptifm, it being not 
fo properly an act of public or focial religion, 
Ido not find it is any where required to be: 
“done in public ; and though it might be ren-’ 
dered more extenfively ufeful by that means: 
for fome purpofes, yet it may be performed: 
in private houfes; or in-retired places, as it 
was ‘in the primitive ages. 


= RATIONAL FOUND. OF A CHRIST. CHURCH P. 23... 


THAT PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE SUP- 
PORT OF THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL. 


THOUGH chriftian minifters fhould be 
fupported in temporal things, that they may 
not labour under perpetual cares, and daily: 
anxieties, how to get bread and raiment for 
themfelvés and their families, and that they 
may maintain their properauthority in preach- 
ing, reproving and exhorting, and Jive above 
the fear or fhame that may arife from pover- 
ty and difhonourable dependences, yet: there 

is no rule nor example in fcripture that fhould 
saife them fo far above the people in riches or 
grandeur,.as to become the lords of God’s 

_ hetitage, or tempt them to affume fovereign 
_ dominion over theconfcience, faith or practife, 

RATIOMAL FOUND. OF A CHIRST. CHUBSH P. 49. 


’ 


92 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. — 


« 


cguicl fy oti hie iat sat aaa 
| ‘THE DUTY OF CHRISTIAN MINISTERS. a a‘) 

@ PA ARE A Pee aie ° iy Sel 
-. THE rule and government which iscom- ~ 
mitted to ordinary minifters in the church, | 
fo far as I can underftand it, feems to confift | 
in thefe things following : viz. In going be- | 
fore the people, and leadmg the feveral parts — 
of their worihip, and becoming their exam- ~ 
ple in every duty ; in teaching them the prin- | 
ciples and rules of their religion ; the knowl- © 
edge, profeflion, and praétice of thofe doc- | 
trines and duties, that worfhip and order, — 
which reafon and natural religion diétate, and — 
that which Chrift himfelf has revealed, fuper- 
added, and eftablifhed in bis word: it con- | 
fifts in exhorting, perfuading, and charging | 
the hearers with tolemnity im the mame and | 


authority of Chrift, to comply therewith : in 
inftructing the people how toapply thefegen> . 
eral principles and rules to particular cafes — 
and occurrences, and giving them their bef, 

advice ; in prefiding in their affemblies, and - 
- particularly as to the admiffionandiexclufion ~ 
of members : it confifts im watching overthe 
flock ;.in guarding then. againft. errors and. | 
dangers ; in admonifhing, and warning, and > 
reproving, with. all gravity and authority, 
thote who neglect or oppofe’ the rules of — 
Chrift. But I cannot find where our blefled 
Lord has given them any power, or pretence 
ae ar 


; 
a 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 93 


‘of power to impofe on confcience any fuch 
‘advices of their own, which neither reafon 
Nor revelation impofe ; nvuch lels to “impofe 
any of their own inventions of new doctrines, 
‘or duties ; or fo much as their own peculiar 
explications of the words of Chrift, by their 
own authority. When our Saviour gaye 
commiffion to his difciples, or his apottles, to 
© preach the gofpel to all nations,” it was in 
this manner: “ Go teach them to obferve” 
{not whatfoever’ you fhall command, but) 
“‘ whatfoever I have commanded you,” Majt. 


SSVI. 
'- RATIONAL FOUND. OF A CuatsT. CHURCH P. Go. 


* 


ee 
“RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. 


ea : j f : 

A CHRISTIAN church allows all its 
‘members the moft perfect liberty of men and 
chriftians. It is inconfiftent with perfecution 
for con{cience fake : for it leaves all civil re- 
wards and punifhments to’ kingdoms, and 
ftates, and the governors of this world.- It 
pretends to no power over confcience, to com-. 
pel men: to obedience } no-préfons, no axes, 
fire, nor fword. It gives its minifters power 
and authority to command nothing but what 
is found in the bible. 


ys IONS Y, FOUND. OF ng CHRIST. CHURCH, Pp. Fat 
& ; 


< “* 


94 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. © 
If any perfon fins fo grofily agai ainft the plais | 
tules of the gofpel, or the aes of God-or 
Chrift, as to appear to renounce the charac. 
ters of a chriftian, the church hath power on- 
ly to renounce fuch a perfon, and « difclaim: all 
chriftian fellowfhip with-him, and to ura 


th 


him into the world, which is the kingdom ¢ of 
Satan, till he repent : But they have no au- 
thority to hurt his life or limbs ; to. touch ; hs 
hair of his head, nor a penny of his moneys, 
by way of punithment. ‘ pes 

RATIONAL FOUNDATION OF A CHRISTIAN ibe P. oo <a 


Pi aah 


A profeffor of every religion has a rigbetto 
be protected by the government as long as he 
maintains his allegiance to the gevenorahd) 
does no injuty to the ftate. But if ‘govern- 
ors will not proteét him, but will give him 
up to the fury of perfecutors, he has rtainly ’ 
a civil right to defend himfelf and his friends’ 
againtt all affaults and i injuries. Eo Rie alt 


RATIONAL FOUNDATION OF A CHRISTIAN ee ay 


‘ - “ye m 
~ Weel ie ey , Bs 
Pu 
. . Baio 2 ae 


THE crédulous man is ie ; r pele . 
every thing for truth, that has but the fhadove 
of evidence ; every new book care 


i eR 
Wa 


+ THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS.” 95) 


‘and every ingenious man with whom he con- 
werles, has power enough to draw him inte 
‘the fentiments of the fpeaker or writer. - He 
has fo much complaifance in him, or weak- 
efs of foul, that he is ready to refign his own - 
opinion to the firft objection which he hears, 
nd to receive any fentiments of another that: 
are aflerted with a pofitive air and much af-° 
furance. Thus he is under a kind of necef- 
fity, through the indulgence of this credulous : 
humour, either to be often changing his opin-: 
jons, or to believe inconfiftences. 
_ The man of contradiction is of a very. con-’ 
trary humour ; for he ftands ready to oppofe ’ 
every thing that is faid : he gives but a flight 
attention to the reafons of other men, from i 
an inward fcornful prefumption that they 
have no ftrength in them. When he reads 
or hears a difcourfe different from his own 
fentiments, he does not give himfelf leave to. 
confider, whether that diicourfe may be true ;. 
but employs all his powers immediately to 
confute it. Your great difputers, and your 
men of controverfy, are in continual danger 
of this fort ofprejudice : they contend often 
for victory, and will maintain whatfoever they 
have afferted, whiie truth is loft in the noife 
and tumult of reciprocal contradictions ; and 
it frequently happens, that a debate about 
opinions is turned into a mutual cep Aer of 


eee 


LOGIC, P. 208. 


The prejudice of een may in ‘ioeu : 
meafure be cured, by learning to fet a high 
value upon truth, and by taking more pains to 
attain it ; remembering that truth often lies” 
dark and deep, and requires us to dig for it as” 
hid treafure ; and that falfhood often puts on” 
a fair difeuite, and therefore, we fhould nee Mh 
yield-up our judgment to every plaufible ap- 
pearance.» It'is no part of civility or good — 
breeding to part with truth; but to ‘maintain, a 
it with decency and candour. og 

A {pirit:of contradiction is Hagin hal ‘di 
hateful, that a man fhould take such pains | 4 
with himfelf to watch againft every inftance 
of it: he fhould learn fo much good-humour 4 
at leaft, as never to oppofe any thing wirk< out 
jut and folid reafon for it : he fhould abate — 
{ome degrees of pride and morofene Sy ‘which 
are never-failing ingredients in this fort of - 
temper, and fhould feek atter fo much hon-» ; 
efty and confcience, as never to contend a a) 

_conquett or triumph ; but to review h ( } 
reafons, and to read the arguments of hi ae 
ponents (if poffible) with an equal in iffer-' > 
ency, -be glad to fpy a truth, and to fubmit 
toit, ay it appre on the oppofite, = 

bang “208. ‘ 
ie 
+ 


> 


A, RO Te eet s 
THE BEAUTIESOF DR. WATTS. 97 


q : ea it ; Y - 
Laiess0T. . i- 


5% i oTHE INFLUENCE: OF custom, og TE 
a a3 } yo. ' re 


: “SUPPOSE + we have freed whieaed bn 
he younger prejudices of our education, yet” 
we are in danger of having dur mind turned © 
nde frony' truth ‘by the influence ' of ge neral - 
cuftent. © Our opinion of heats and’ drinks, ° 
of garments ‘and-forms “of Yalutation, ‘are in- 
fluenced more by cuftom,. than‘ by the’ eye,” 
the eat; or the tafte.  Cuttom prevails even | 
over ferle itfelf} ‘aad therefore no‘wonder if it ° 
prevail everteafén'too. “What is it but cuf- 
tol! "that Yerders many of the mixtures of ? 
food and “(wiices dé sieht “in Batain,, which 
would be aulkward and: aduebie to the in- 
habitants of China, and indeed ‘were naufeous » 
to usSwhel Wwe firft tafted then?’ What but” 
fatins Ses lees make thofe flutations | solite i a t 
COV¥, Ww ce an 

england 3 one sca he’ 0 
iter! nationy; But°is ite Wha judse thus 
ourfelves’ 5’ anstl’ that fancied poli iets" ou 
tentimes more ‘owing to'ciftom ‘thatt reafon. 
Whi are the’ foris of dtit pr fent’ saline 3, 
solvated! beAveifal, fa HUE’ thins of out’! 
anceftors the matter of {coff'#fid vontempr,” ” 
which ‘int tif days were all decent and gen- 
tecl? It is cuftom that forms our opinion of © 
dtels, and Paes us by degrees to tholg 


98  THE.BEAUTIES OF DR. aie. 


habits which at firft feemed very odd and 
monftrous. It muft be granted, there ave 
fome garments and habits;which have a nat-. 
ural congruity or incongruity, modefty or im-_ 
modefty, gaudery or gravity ; though for the 
moft part. there is but. little. reafon in thefe 
affairs ; but what little there is of. reafon, or 
natural decency, cuftom triumphs over it all... 
It is almoft impoffible to pe: riuade a ‘young 
lady that.any thing can Le decent which is. 
out of fafhion. 

The methods of our education are eovern-| 
ed by cuftom. It is cuftom, and not Teafon, 
that fends every boy to learn the Roman po- 
ets, and begin a little SEARORED with | 
Greek,. before he is bound. apprentice to a 
foap-boiler or a leather-feller. Atis cuftom 

_alone that teaches us Latin by. the Tule ofa” 
Latin Grammar ; a tedious andabfurd meth- 
od! And what is it but cuftom that ha ha 

’ 


aft centuries confined the bri genir 
al of the hi iret rane in: ag le worl 
to.the bufinefs Te the needle only, and fecluc 
ed them moft unmercifully from the pleat- q 

_ ures of knowledge, and, the divine improve 
be 

a 


‘ments of reafon. But, we begin to to. brea 
_thele chains, and seafon begin slic 
education. of Tautho» yt 20 eres alt pal 


oh ite 9 oral HRY at Sic 


To etalolass fern gy at ¢ 


3 Y ogo aa eae LIT. teak, wd 


HE BEAUTIESOF DR. WATTS. 99 


7 


ABSURDITY OF HEREDITARY PREJUDICES EXPOSED. 


SOME, perfons believe every thing that 
their kindred, their parents, and their tutors 
believe. The veneration and the love which 
they have for their anceftors, incline them to 

- fwallow down all their opinions at once, with- 
‘out'examining what truth or falfliood there is 
in them. ‘Men take their ‘principles by in- 
héritence, and defend them as they would 
their eftates, becaufe they are born heirs to. 
them. I freely-grant, that parents are ap- 
pointed by God and nature to teach us all 
the fentiments and practifes of our younger 
years ; and happy are thofe whofe parents 
- lead them into the paths of wifdom and truth. 
~ ¥Pgrant further, that when perfons. come to 
years of difcretion, and judge for themielves, 
they ought to examine the opinions of their 
parents, with the greate{t modefty, and with 
an humble deference to their fuperior charac- 
ter ; they ought, in matters perfectly dubious, 
to give the preference to their parentsadvice, 
_ and always to pay them the firft refpect, nor . 
~ ever depart from their opinions and practifes, 
till reafon and confcience make it neceflary. 
But after_all;.it is poffible; that parents »may 
be miftaken, and therefore reafon and {erip- 
ture ought to be our final rules of determin- 
ation in matters that relate to this world; and 

- that which is to come. 

LOGIC, P. 222. 


-490 THE TANTS ANE ‘ 


font eM is a eden 
OPPOSITE DUTIES. The 


on9G oft 2 i 

“WHERE two Fe fh qe ay. 

pofition. to each other, Bi prac- 

rte both, the lefs muft give way to. the great- 

‘er, and the omiffion of the lefs is not finful. 

So ceremonial laws, give parece maa: iva 
wal have IBY Tui not, 4h}, st 

ab mse nate 


areas 


- 


Sey eer 


4 6% 


¢ AMBENCE FROM GOD, wile: +3 “OUR ain. oi: 
Orth, aaa eqqacd Bais} ele, 
_ MY Gai: my Maker, E have:cailed “i 
my all- fatisfying® portion, and niv eternal; 
When I contemplate thee, Titand amvZ 
thy grandeur ; thy wifdom, thy power, 
fuinels of bleffing, wrap my foul'up in 
uhment:and devout filence.'* In ide! ap 
moment my foul cries out,” what ate creas ‘ 
when compared ‘with thee; but miei 
of being, and faint’ reflections of th 
beauty? “And yet (ftupid as Pan 
- dofe my. fight ot God, and ftand gazing 
thy creatures ‘all’ the day, as if beauty ae 
light were theirstin’ the ‘original. tet ie 
» What are’ théyrall,) Omy God, bu Pen 


cifterns.:that | can give no relief tora.th Gs >. 
he gonlets thou fupply* them ‘with’ tivulets 


ir Bde BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. AO 


from: on high > And yet we croud about. 
thefe. cifterns, and are attached to them, as- 
though they were the unfailing fprings and. 
“fountains of our bleffednefs. Every breath 
“we draw is a new and unmerited gift from. 
Pi aes? ; God our life and the length of our. 
_ days ; and yet we are contented to fpead that. 
lite’ fat from heaven and from God, and to. 
_ dwell afar off from him, amidit the regions of 
_ mortality and death : we are ever orovelli ing 
inthis land of graves, as though immortal 
_bleffings were to bedrawn from the cleds of it. 
Our real and ‘eternal intereft depends more. 
‘oh thy fingle favour, than on the united 
Padendthip: of the whole creation ; and yet,’ 
- foolifh wanderers that we are |. We abient 
_ ourfelves from our God, and rove far and wide 


a 


to feek intérefts and friendthips, among crea- - 


tures whofe character is weaknefs, v ‘anity, and - 
- difappointing vexation. How fond ate we. 
_of a word or a look from a worm in a high 
ftation? How do we carefs. them and court. 

their love, at the expence of virtue and truth, 
and the favour of God our maker? And yet.) 
“they are nothing. without God, but he is our | 
all without their leave. 

Should my father and my mother, and eve 
ery mortal friend forfake me, and every good 
angel take his flight ; fhould thefe heavens. 
_and this earth, with all their innumerable in- 

; habitants difappear at once, and vanith into” 
) a 


4 


4 , 
bye 
4 tle 


102 THE BEAUTIES OF DR, b. WATTS. 


their firft nothing ; thy Pigeues with me is_ 
all-fufficient, thy band would fupport-my be- 
ing, and thy love would furnifh out an eter-— 
nity of life and coeval happinels. Why then > 
do I tie myfelf fo faft to my mortal friends, ; 
as though my feparation from them were cer- 
tain mifery? Why do I Jean upon creatures 


with my whole weight,’ as kins i nothing 


elfe could fupport me ? ' 

Oh my God ! Iam cdemmalied that I. se 
more affairs, and of far higher importance, to 
tranfact with thee, than with all thy creatures, 
and yet I am ever chattering with” ‘thy. crea- 
tures, and fay little to my God; or at beft 
give him a morning or an evening {alutation,. 
and perhaps too with indolenge and formal- 
ity. Whom have I in heaven or on earth but 
thee, that can fupply all my wants, and fill up 
all the vacancies of my heart? And yet how 
are my thoughts and hours bufily spires 
in queft of fatisfation among the fhining 
fnares, or at beft among the flattering i imper~ 
tinencies of the world ; though every new ex-: 


‘periment fhews me they are all unfatisfying ? - 


If I happen to find any thing here below made. 


a channel to convey fome bleffing to me from 
thy hand, how prone am I to. make an idol 
of it, and Sig it in the room of my Bs o 


sus Pani while I dwell in. this Page : 


id 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS, 103 


i - ch and blood. Let. medicines and phyfi- 


_ cians pronounce defpair and death upon me, 
_ a word of thine can fhut the. mouth-of the 


grave, can renew the vigor and bloom of 


youth, and repair the decays of nature. If 


thou withhold thy vital influence, my flefh: 


- languifhes and expires even among the luxu-_ 
rious provifions of the table, and the recipes. — 


ef the learned ; and it is thou only can’ft — 
provide me a blifsful habitation, when. this. 


" cottage is fallen to the ground. Father, inio 


thy hand. I commend my fpirit, when it is dif- 
lodged from this.mortal tabernacle ; and-why 
fhould I not keep my {pirit ever near. thee, - 
fince every moment I am liable to be turned | 


' - out of this dwelling, and fent a naked ftran- » 


ger into. the unknown world of fpirits ? 

_It is but a few days and nights more that - 
I can have to do with fun, moon and ftars ; 
a little time will finifh all my commerce with 
this vifible world ; but I have affairs of infi- 
nite and everlafting moment to tranfa& with 


the great God. It is before thy tribunal I 


miuit ftand as the final judge of all my con- 
duct, from whofe decifive fentence. there is: 


no appeal ; and yet how fond am I, and 


wretchedly folicitous, to approve myfelf rather 
to creatures, whofe opinion and fentence is, 
but empty air. It is by thy judgment that I 
niuft ftand or fall forever ; the words of thy 
lips will be my eternal blifs, or my everlafting_ , 


_- Woe ; why then fhould J, a little infect, or 


1o4' THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 
- Wade Weg See “ : 
_ atom of being; be concefned about the files — 
or frowns'/of my’ fellow-infé&ts, my equal at- 
oms ?« Can‘all their ‘applatfes, or their re- 
proaches, weigh a grain in the diviné balance, ~ 
that facred and Tl aa ao 
tice, in. which all my a¢tions and my foul it-— 
felf mutt be iia > Penah ie Bedbihes . 
above arid below frown’ and {cowl upon me ; 
if my Creator‘ fmile, I’ am’ happy ; nor can’ 
all their frownings diminith my complete joy. 
Forgive, gracious God, forgive the paft~ 
follies ‘and ‘wanderings ofa finful worm, from 
thee the higheft ‘and the ‘beft of Beings. 2 
- am"évert-amazed’at'my own ftupidity, that 
I could ‘live {o much abfent from thee, when - 
my eternal all depends upon thee. 6 
Y And’ bow chitcly Bre excufable is my 


forgetfulnels of my God,’ finée he“has fent 


% 


ed*to conver{e’ 


THE BEAUTIES @F DR.WATTS. 105. 


member that I have.infinitely more to'do 
with J cau and-thus.fhorten ‘my; tale 
and ¢ traftick with)them, that I may- have leif- 
ure. ae converfe the longer) with-thee: Let 
me fee thee in every. thing,; let me read thy — 
name ,¢yery awherel;. founds, fhapes; colours, 
motions, and all vifible things, let them all. 
teach; ;mejan. invifible Gods; Let. creatures be 

hing to me, but as the-books ;which thon - 

ft lent.me, to- inftraa . mein the, leffons..6f 
Pe poet iyehate anid piahios odors ails let 


See ‘Trai pees Aesptiiss vii 
ork sand thy wor 
- the condelcending:. methods ‘of> thiy- pees 
providence, till I. am loofened and wean- 
Aue all, things below God.5 and then give 
a glorious. difmiffion 1 tO that intelleciuat 
and blufsful, world, wherein a more,immedit 
ite manner, I fhalh fee. God, and where-God 
unfelt, suithe feaiile, achwowledged dike ‘of 
pots gut pay 
q ry a 33 Sy 
x sh 3fii-bas ae so 26 : 1 7 e:HOTIE 3" 
‘ ia) ple einige 


— si se bo 8 Ue ray . 


[DASE THOVONTS) 2, 259 


* ‘iris is ee dian “hard to to peat ‘ithe 
BB fome, ne le prejudice: and) gaod 
; 


a 
a 


‘ 


166 | THE weer OF DRAPES, 


‘liking to the o 
“aré we ‘to our 


‘eur favour! to’ the caufe we'he ; 
vand for no other reafon than ‘Betale we ef- 


‘puting-fake, yet ifa plaufible and *fmiling 
‘guchent for it occtirs’ in out hafty thoughts, 
‘brain, and ‘be‘almoft tm love with aeogiich 
‘for the fake of the ‘argument ? 1 efs there 
are rio fuch formal reafonings in md as 


‘thefe 5: yet we: ‘are- in 


felves : Our paftion firtt thinks" 
fuch a happy argument eeu 


‘tations before my tutor} And, for this ré: 


- pleafing ambition of victory, 


inion we'defend. ‘Sauer tei 
vive yes, in bier 
raterftate, that felf-love too eafily'¢r 


poufed it. Though wevhad fio kindnefs be- 
fore for an opinion that we maintai for dif 
2 ‘ar= 


how prone are we 'to hug the'creature ¢ of 


‘efteeny any thing’ that’ srotee ‘ 


fhould be on the faife fide, arid 
finuation perfuades’ the: judgment 

true. How otten have F experienc 
fallacies working within me’ in verhal 


Lhave no-great efteen of the method of 61 
academical | difputes, where the youn g fophi 
tefs are obliged to oppofe ctr by the 
beft arguments they can find, and the tutor 
defends it and affifts the refpondent. — There 
is a certain | wantonnefs of wit, epee a 

r works in 
a young warm fpirit, much ftronger “ace a 
defire of truth. There isa ftrange ‘delight 


_ in baffling the refpondent, and oe 


- THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 107: 


fenfibly, if we can put the prefident toa puz- 
gle ora ftand. The argument which 1s fo 
fuccefSful, ‘relifhes better‘on the kps of the 
young opponent, and he begins to think that 
atis folid and unan{werable ; ‘* Surely my tu- 
“ tor’sopinion,can hardly be true; and though | 
“<].thought I was put on the defence of a falfe. 
* doétrine, yet fince I have found fo good an- 
** aroument for it, I can hardly believe it 
* falfe.”’ Then-his invention works on to 
firengthen his fufpicion, and at laft he firmly 
believes the opinion he fought for. . Otten 
hhaye I been in danger of fuch delufions as. 
thefe, and feel myfelf too ready to fubmit_to 
them now. Even a clofet, and retirement, 
nd our cooleftuneditations, are liable to thefe 
fet fophiftries. Upon the firft fight ofan - 
objection againft our arguments, our thoughts ‘- 
are ftrangely hurried away to ranfac the brain ° 
for a reply, and we torture our invention to — 
make our fide have the laft word, before we 
call in cool. judgment calmly to decide the - 
difference 3 and thus from a hot defence of 
Out own reafonings, we unimaginably flide 
into a cordial defence of the caufe. 
=a} By _MISCEL, THOUGHTS, &. 390, 


cain in tees ay motives -a 
rous “and powerful rsh 
And “if, the: motives to’ reli 
realoning powers: ‘caf’ pro] 
fufficient to’ ‘equal, ‘orrather 
temptations to vice and-“‘impi 
the balance of » rea(on 
weighty, than the priti 
Chriftianity! mutt ben 
cient, becauleywith’ an 
dance; ‘they’ out-weigh 
fleth and fin; when: ‘put! 
lance of’ reafon.)) > 1) 
Wnd'on ‘the aa hands 
the: gofpel; numerous Jana! p 
‘ are; prove | ineffeAtak te 
hear: them;furely the ag ah 
fon, which are much ’f A 
very.cinfufficient. in compat 
‘Fevelation, 


PAY oo TOC se ce eB OEY 
THE EEATIES OF DR. WATTS. 190 


~ 
Ys 
a 


EASON “ALONE NOT SUFFICIENT TO ‘PROCURE 
7 9 aE RHE WISDOM AND BLESSEDNESS, : 


4 mI Rib debt eet 5 
(2 av. wh oi yas 


IF el hae 4 tach a tesotand Bie 
‘ulative fafficiency,” to guide and eae ae 
nankind to happinefs in a. way of feligion,1 
here i pe yery | few Hal b rea who were never . 


picket! sell mae. and~ Puen and, “th | 
en ‘and the oe and affil ances, dre | 

inently ie é: found in the. A of 
phrift. 1 4 


fii 4 ‘ } 
STRENGTH ANP, venmcnss OF HYM. REASON, P 14 


4 ee ghiB. 2! WETHIR A OR ls ¥ 
ey pF Nie Garces Va Ak aateeae Mane 
(ieee OMS elt t ~ 


THAT is detent; “wane is ragheie % to. 


ele 


Ss, LOGIC, Pa 263. 


oe 


ik ort ee 


7 


2 


ur flates ‘condition or ‘eitcumflances, whe- 
her if ve in-behiaviowr, difcourfe, or action, 


110 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTs. 


or “ 

+ 4 
i? e's A 
se 


GRADUAL PROGRESS OF THE cosPat. she 


THIS gofpel was not t revealed. at once in 
its full glory to mankind. There haye been 
feveral editions of it, or gradual difcoveries 
of this grace in all the former ages of the 


Id 
Bs foon as ever Adam had finned, ‘and 
ruined himielf and his pofterity too, by lay- 
ing the foundation of their fin An mifery, 
it pleafed God to publith this his got 1 by the 
promife of a Saviour, whe. ‘our mo- 
ther Eve, that ‘ her i soul bruife the 
*‘ head of the ferpent” thar had deceived 
her. Gen. iii. 15. This, by our divines, i is 
generally called the firft gofpel; fe 
modern language of the New Ti 
fignifies, that * Jefus Chrift fhould come in- 
** to this world to deftroy the ob cs the 
*« devil.” Fobn ii. 8. 

Doubtle{s Noah, the fecond father, ’ man- 
kind, had fome fisher ifcoveriat! ce to 
him, when the rainbow was appointed as the 
- feal of a gracious covenant betwixt God and 
man : for the very promife of the continuance 
of the comfortable feafons of the year, being 
given to man in a way of mercy, doimply 
that God would not. be irrecon Ee cabints his 
fallen creatures. Nor can we reafonably 
fuppofe but that Adam and Noah, and, ee 


pe 
Sere 
ae 


~ 


‘THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS, ITY. 
| thofe moft ancient Pattiarchs, had larger ex — 
“plications and comments of the firft promife 
| given them than Mofes has recorded. ! 
~ ‘The gofpel was renewed by revelations made 

‘to Abraham, when the Meffiah,-the Saviour, 


was promifed to {pring out of his family: In 


thy feed’ fhall all nations of the earth be 
‘bleffed.” Which promife is expre(sly called 
the gofpel. Ga/. 11. 8. There was alfo a type 
or pattern of our jufticfiation by faith in the 
way of the gofpel, when ‘* Abraham believed 
God” in his promifes, &c. “it was impu- 

_ © ted to him for righteoufnefs.” Rom. v. 3. 
Mofes hada much larger difcovery.’ of the 
grace and mercy of God toward finful man 
made to him, and to the Jews by itm, than 
all the patriarchs put together: and this was _ 
not only done in the types, and figures, and 
ceremonies, not only in altars, facrifices, wafli- 
ings, {prinklings, purifications, and in their 
redemption from Egypt, their miraculous 
falvations in the wilderneis, and their fafe con- 
duc to Canaan, the land of promifed refl : 
-but he had many literal and exprefs’ revela- 
tions of pardoning and fanctifying grace, which 
are fcattered up and down in the five books 
which he wrote, and which he gave to the 
ehildren of Ifrael to direct their religion, This 
is alfo-called the gofpel, Hed. iv. 2. “ To 
* them was the gofpel preached as well as. 
“unto us,” as thofé words ought to be tranf= 
lated. This fame gofpel was afterwards cor.- 


7 + 
S - 
a) 4 » 


fe 
ea ee 
ie ea hy 2 a> 


. ae } arte Ae -* 
Pie, see: 
’ ; Ei 


(212 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. | 


firmed, illuftrated and enlarged by fuccee i 
browns in the feveral Mee toe 
‘chur 7. revat tae g EY TOS PLY - i 


ee et cre go i 
- But “ God, who at fundry fi ne » and in 
* divers manners {poke” this go eee 


“fathers by the prophets, has in thefe latte 
“days” poblined eat Fa aa Oe 
er manner, ‘ by his Son, efus,” t e promif- 
éd Saviour. Heb. i. 1. And fince the death 
and refurrection of Ghrilt, the apoftles being 
jent by their exalted Lord, have given yet 
plainer and fuller declarations of this gofpel to 
the children .ofsmen. .. . D5 a ae. 
And upon. this account it Pier eah sie 
called the golpel of Chrift, not only becaufe 
the offices and grace of Chnft run through 
the whole of it, but alfo becaule the cleareft 
“difcoveries of it are made to the world by 
Chrift, and "by his meflengcrs the apc tes. nt 
Now from this laft and fullett revel ation of 
it in the New Teftament, we may derive a 
fuller and more perfect knowledge of the gof- 
pel than all the former ages could attain. 
_ Efereby we learn that the gotpelis a * prom-. 
“ ife of falvation from fin and hell, by the. 
« death, righteoufnels, and grace ‘of our Lord ; 
-  Jefus Chrift, to every one Hea ae 
- willing to accept of it by coming to shrift, 
“or trufting in him ;” and it includes alfo 
« the promifed aid of the Holy Spirit to thofe 
«¢ who feek it, to enable them torreceive this. 


“ falvation, and to fit them for the final pol 


ef ere wee 


" 
ag 


“ah > 
“ we P 
we eee 

is. ee 


kK THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 113 
- * feffion of the promifed glory.” It includes 
_alfo the “¢ revelationof the future refurrec- 
‘tion, and lait judgment, and eterna] life.” 
- To this end did the ‘* Son of God come into 
~ “the world, that whofoever beheves on hint 
*¢fhould not perifh, but have everlafting 
“life.” John in. 16. 
ne ‘ ORTHODOXY AND CHRISTIANITY, P, 2, 


‘ 
<- 


THE GREAT DESIGN OF OUR SAVIOUR’S MINISTRY. 


_ THE great defign of our, Saviour in his. 
public appearance and minifiry_ upon earth, 
was to prove bimfelf to wear he trae charac- 
ters of the Meffiah, to deliver the Jews from 
many falfe expofitions and glofies which the 
Scribes and Pharifees of that day had ‘given 
to feveral parts of {cripture, to Jead the world’ 
fo a conviction of their fins, and thereby pre- 
pare them to receive the doctrine of falvation 
with more zéaband defire ; whereas the falva-- 
tion itfelf, and. the manner whereby it was 
accomplifhed, was but brieHy mentioned in. 
fome few texts, and the reft was left to be ex-- 
plained by his apoffles. 


Pee ORTHODOXY. AND CHRISTIANITY, .P..28.- 
ie ch wea ce : (es, 


des 


7 
é4A8 
wise 
4 ; A 
eth oh. Mt eeeee is Ect j ESBo MOK >.’ 
. - : ~ , 
a fae a 
4,2, > g 


Sevbe ss: 


=a : 


ti4 THE BEAUTIES OF DR..WATTS. 


; si estas mesa 

Cee eH ie th, 

ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO. PREACHING. abecelh a 
GOSPEL. ren 


re wa 


Some may think it the duty and: bufinefs. 
of the day ‘to temporize,. and by preaching 
the gofpel a little. more conformably to natu- 
ral religion, in a mere rational or legal form,. 
to bring it down as near as may be to their 
fcheme, that we may gain them to hear and 
approve it, or at. leaft that we may not offend: 
them. But I anv rather of opinion, that we 
fhould in fuch a-day ftand up for the defence: 
ef the gofpel in the full glory of its moft im- 
portant doctrines, and in the full freedom of — 
its grace ; that we fhould preach it in its di-- 
vineft and moft evangelical form, that the 
crofs of Chrift, by the promifed power of the 
Spirit, may vanquifh the vain reafonings of: 
men, and that this defpifed doctrine, triumph- 
ing in the converfion of fouls, may confound: 
the wife and the mighty, and filence the dif 
puters of this world. This was the bold and: 
glorious method St. Paul toak at Corinth, 
where: learning and’ reafon and~ ilofophy. 
flourifhed in pride; but they yie feve 
trophies of victory to the preaching of the~ 
crofs.. Paul could ufe the ** wifdom of words’”* 
whenever he: bad-occafion for it; and had the 
“ excellency of fpeech” at command when: 

he pleafed : this appess 3 in feveral pee a 


ie, i 
Pin os 
wpe gay P vy Me 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 1g . 


| his writings ; yet in his fermons at Corinth, _ 
he difclaimed it all,.and “ determined to know . 
“nothing among them but Chrift, and him 
* crucified.” 5 Cor. it. 2. 
ORTHODOXY AND CHRISTIANITY, P, 97- 


~ . : 7 


’ ORTHODOX AND CHRISTIANITY. — 

-LET our converfation be fuch, as becomes. 

the gofpel in every form of it, whether abfo- 
“flute or conditional. Let our clofe walking 
- with God be exemplary and inftructive, that 
men may fee our religion as well as hear it, 
and all may. confefs that while we preach the, 
gofpel, we are zealous obfervers of the law. 
Let us maintain-upon our own hearts a {weet. 
and. honourable fenfé of the riches of free 
grace in Chrift, together with a tender fenfe. 
of the evil of fin, and a lively delight in holi- 
nefs, that the daily experience of our own, 
fouls, and’ our inward chriftianity which is. 
taught us, and wrought in us, by the fpirit of 
God, ny inflrud us how.to preach to oth- 


&IS.. 
ORTHODOXY AND CHRISTSANITY, P. 99) 


for valuable ends and purpofes i i his : 


“+ 
Sie: 


a1 6 THE DEAUTIES OF DRe WATTS. 


Hi , ae te d + .s 
ate Sata 1 See in org 


-BHE EXPEDIENCY OF ENGAGING | THE Ca NS 
OF THE LOWER CLASSES OF ) ‘MANKIND. 


GOD defi ocd ax to ‘dwell here ty patti 2 
wretched world, and I grant it is no {mall part 
of our ftate of trial ; but to alleviate our un-_ 
happine(s, he has- mingled i in the mafs of man- 
kind fome finer veins, fome more intellectual. 
and unprejudiced {pirits, in whofe converfa- 
tion we may find fuitable delight, and pleaf— 
ures worthy of the rational nature... Why 
thould not we fuppofe there’ are ‘many other 
minds as happily turned as our. own, and of 
fupetior fize, and more divine temper > Alt 
men have not been bleffed: with our advanta- 
ges, yet their native felicity. of thought may: 
tranicend ours. And: as for the relt, God b has- 
ordained it our duty to affociate with’ ‘them 

ri- 
dence, which regard both them an nae Itis. 
our bufinefs to.endeavour to. perfi them 
to lay afide their miftaken notions, to. Temove 
all the biaffes of error, from* their r judgment, 
to quench their indignation: againft men of 
different opinions, and to enlarge theirs narrow | 
fouls, though we find it a difficult: work. T 


have often feen what you complain of, and. 


have been réady to conclude that when. “we. 
have to do with vulgar fouls, we fhould net 


- tavifh away our labour to convince ttem oh 


‘at 


"innocent miftakes in matters of fmall impor- , 


stante, but only lay out our thoughts to rec- 
» tify-their. notions in things that tegard their 
_ prefent or future welfare. And when we re- 
flect, how very impotent, and low aré'the ca- 


-pacities of fome ignorant creatutes that<we ~ 


shave: to,do-with, how fhort.their- Tealonings, 
| chow few. their advantages, to! improve. their 
jminds, chow | uncapable their, judgments: ate 
_of growing, up,toa iolid.and mature flate by 
_-out utmoft cultivation, and how unable their 
-minds are in.many cafes to difeernand diftin- 
-guilh truth ; I have been tempted, to;perfuade 
pmyfelf, it.is not -dithoneft, policy to engage 
their affections a little. .. I know -well,sthat 
‘the paffions were never made -to ‘judge of 
jtruth ; but if we find ‘perfons:who willthever 
judge. by any, other-rule, I would amalve en- 
quiry whether we might net in |fome>:eafes 
hhonefily, make ufe-of; this.» 1fiwe: find! that 
laifeCtion isthe-great gate of entrance into the 
- gadgments.of the multitude, and reafon if but 
like the back-door, or fome meaner avenue, 
_ and feldom opened to let in a doGrine ; 3 may 
- we not thence infer, that, the.-fofter, arts of 
winning upon men, are tobe ftudied by us as. 
well as hard arguments. 


) MISCEL, THOUGHTS, F» 195. 


ee | 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. (117 


% 


118 THE sings psa saad a 
Pi . 5 AB Hi re ea: 
ered . erred) me BAe la iy 
Ra BERTY. oF PRAYER aes 
Rae Gy vay, wea! eo a 
INDEED i in the lene teens; there is no 
~need. of binding ourfelves to a whe page 
together, as it ftands in the book. In 3 
name of God, let us ftand fattin our chriftian” 
liberty, and maintain a jutt freedom of foul 
in our addreffes to heaven; let us change, 
enlarge, ‘or contraét, let us aaa" or omit, ac- 
-cording to our- peculiar fentiments, or our 
— frame of {pirit. Mr, Jenks, a pious: 
divine of the Church of England, has written. 
-an excellent treatife on the Tiberty of | Pr: | 
which I dare recommend toevery fort of read- 
er. Butwhen we find thetemper,thewantsand 
the withes of our. hearts fo happily exprefled 
in the words of the compofer,as that we know 
-not how to frame.other-words fo fuitable and 
fo expreflive of our own prefent ftate and’ 
café, why fhould we not addrefs our God and: 
our. ‘Saviour in this borrowed: language > rE 
confefs indeed, when long euftom has induced © 
a fort of flatnefs into thefe founds; how hap- 
pily foever the.words might be at firft chofen, 
then perhaps we fhall want fomething new 
and various to keep. nature awake to the de- 
votion.. Or if we ftill confine ourfelv te 
tirely to the forms we réad, and forbid our 
fpirits to exert their own pious fentime nts, 
we turn thefe engines of holy pe 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 119 


clogs and fetters. But when chriftians make» 
3 prudent ufe of them, they have frequently 
experienced unknown advantage and delight. 
A dull and heavy hour in the clofet has been - 


relieved by the ufe of fuch- devout compo. _ 


ures of mingled meditation and prayer ; and. 
many a dry and barren heart has been enabled 
to. offer up the firft fruits of a {weet facrifice 
to God in the words of another man. The 
fire of devotion has been kindled-by the help 
of fome ferious and pathetic forms, and the 
fpirit of the worfhipper, which has been ftrait- 
ened and bound up in itfelf, has found a blef- 
fed releafe by the pen of fome: pious writer. — 
The wings of the foul have been firft expand- 
ed toward God and heaven by fome happy 
turn of fervent and holy language ; fhe has 
been lifted up by this affiftance above. the. 
earth and mortality ; then fhe has given her- » 
felf a more unconfined and various flight in 
the upper regions, fhe has traverfed the heav- 
enly world, fhe has felt herfelf within the cir- ~~ 
cle of divine attraction, and has dwelt an hour 
with God. _- : ; 


MISCEL. THOUGHTS; P. 207. 
(SS ee ee 


RULE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE REASONING 
ad, FACULTIES, © . 


| _ACCUSTOM yourfelves to clear and dit. 
tinct ideas, to evident propofitions, to ftrong 


190! THE READ TH#s Or°DRE WATTS” 
and convincing arguments. > ¢ onve 
with thofé men, and ‘thofe books, 
paits of learning, where you meet 
greateft Clearnet of thought, “an 
reafonin®, >’ The niathe: i fete’ 
Ney ani ee d 
chanics; abound with th ‘ady tases : 2 
if thére were nothing valuable in 
ufes of hudian life; yet the ve 
parts of this fort of leatning are 
ftudy $ for by perpetual examy 3 
us ‘to'coneéive with clearnefs; to conned 
ideas and “propofitions in’ 4 train of depe 
encé,; to reafon with ‘ftren, th and demo 


tion; and’to ‘diftinguifi si nae “an 

falfliood. °' Something of thefetciences Thoulc 
be sftudied by “every ‘man’ who'pretends 
learning, and that, as Mr.’ Zo 

_ not fo muchas to make usma 


Re 


-iderice’ of ‘perception and forte of reafoni 
empties helt iss 
that the mind may be {oon offended with ob-" 
{curity ‘and confufion ; then we fhall, as it 
were, naturally and with eafe reftrain—ou 

minds from rafh judgment, before we attain 
juft evidence of the propofition whic AS. 
fered to us; and we {hall with the fame eafe, 
and, as it were, naturally feize and 4 
pe truth that is propofed ‘ae i { oe 
chee. nib abit eee 


. DHE BEAUTIES QF DR. WATTS. © 221 
_ This habit of conceiving clearly, of jadg- . 
ing juftly, and of reafoning well, is pot to be: 
attained merely by the happine(s of conftitu- 
tion, the brightneis of genius, the beft natu- 
tal parts, or the beft collection of Logical pre- 
cepts : it is cuftom and practice that-muft 
form this habit. We muft apply ourfelves 
to it till we perform all this readily, and w.th- 
out reflecting on rules. A coherent thinker, 
and a {trict reafoner, is not to be made at 
once by a fet oftrules, any more-than 4 good 
painter or mufician may be formed extempore 
by an excellent lecture’ on mufic or painting. 
it is of infinite importance therefore in out 
younger years to be taught both the value. 
and’ the practice of conceiving clearly and 
reafoning tight : for when wé are grown up 
to the middle of life, or paft it, it is no won- _ 
der we fhould not learn good reafoning, any 
more than that an ignorant clown fhould not, 
be able to learn fine language, dancing, or 
courtly behaviour, when his ruftic airs have _ 
srown up with him till the age of forty. 
~ For want of this cate, fome perfons of rank 
and education dwell’all their days among ob- 
[cure ideas ; they conceive and judge always 
in confufion, they take weak arguments for 
Jemonftration, they-are’ led away with the 
lifuifes and fhadowsof truth. Now if fuch 
fons happen to have a bright imagination, 
» volubility of ‘fpeech,: and copioufnefs of 
i peas 1) ; 


“naa THE azavries oF DR Ww. TTS 
language, they not on 
upon their own ui a 
ftamp the image of their 


their neighbours a 
Tors abroad. iy a 


ve ; aio a oh a3 ede i 
ADVICE ON THE. SUBJECT OF ey 


Wise iy 
ee reg ss Unie ree a 
ts 


BE not fo,folicitous about the number 
the weight of your argunients, -efpec ally i 
proving any propofition that ee or atu 


ral certainty, or of complete 
Many times we do ouenaeke 
ling, upon trifling, arguments. 
our hearers with uncertainties, by r 
the number of feeble reafoning ngs, D 
mention thofe which are 1 more fu 
soneliiire, and convincing. <A 
we yield up our own affent to mere 
ble ao om where Rel roofs fs fo 
obtained, Rees 


fel 
if 


es ie a in all your, arguings | 
the underftanding, as well as to co: 
captivate. the judgment. Argu 
a manner as.may give a natural, 
and folid knowledge of things toyour 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 123 


ers, as well as to force their affent by a mere 
pron of. the caine 


Locic, P 334 


| EXCELLENT USE OF SIMILITUDES. 


» SEMILITUDES and allufions have often- 
times a very happy influence to explain fome 
difficult truth, and to render the idea of it 
familiar and ealy. Where the refemblance is 
-juft-and accurate, the influence of ’a fimile 
“may proceed {0 far as to fhew the pofhibility 
‘ot the thing in queftion: but fimilitudes 
‘muft not be. taken .as.a folid proof of the 
truth of exiftence of thofe things | to which 
- they, have.a refernblance. A too great de- 
i ference paid to fimilitudes, or an utter rejec- 
tion of them, feem.to be two. extremes, and 
éught to be. avoided, — The late ifgenious — 
Mr, Locke, even in his enquiries after truth, 
‘makes a great ufe of fimilies for. frequent il- 
luftration, and is) very happy.in the invention : 
of..them, though herwarns us alfo-left we 
miftake them for conclufive arguments. 
Yet let it be noted here, that a parable, or 
_a fimilitude ufed by any author, may give a 
_ fufficient proof of the true fenfe and meaning 
of that author, provided that he. draw not 
his fimilitude beyond the; {cope . and defign 


124 ‘THE ‘BEAUTI z 


’ ray 
for which it was brought ; as wl r Sa: 
viour affirms, Rev. iit, 3 aoa " 

“ thee as a thief ;’ he will pla 

that he defcribes the : unexpetfedne 

pearance, though it 1s by no means gn 

drawn to fgaily any ee in pie of 
: oe Srna P- 3360 

GTA LR nd «if 


_ ENTRANCE UPON: ae B WORLD, coe i 
or Wee mapeee! " 

CURINO was a ‘young, man brought! 
to a reputable trade 5 the term of his appren- iy 
ticefhip was almoft expired, and he was con- 
triving how he might venture into the world 


with fafety, and purfue bufinefS with inno- 


cence and i fuecels, Among his near 
Serenus was one, a Lara: of cont 
character i in the facred: p nC 1s) 


serchae of great efteem ianitex sel 
alfo thought fit to feeka word of: canes om: 
the divine. - Serenus had fach’ a refpeet for 
his young kinfman, that he fet his though 

at work on this fubyect, and with forme t ender 
expreffions, which melted the yor nnd 
he put into his hand a paper of] = 
fels. Curino ‘entered upon bufinels, pu 
his employment with uncothaion adve 
and under ‘the bleffing of Heaven — ba 


> wax BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 125 


| himfelf to a confiderable eftate. He lived 
| with honour in the world, and gave a luftre to 
the religion which he profefied ; and after a, 
long life of piety and ufefulnefs, he died with: 
| a facred compofure of foul, under the influ- 
| ences of the chriftian hope. Same of his 
| neighbours wondered at his felicity in this. 
world, joined with fo much innocence, and 
| fuch fevere virtue.. But after his death this 
paper was found in his clofet, which was drawn 
|.up by his kinfman in holy orders, and was 
- fuppofed to have a large fhare in procuring 
~ his happinefs. 


Cs a TO A YOUNG MANS 


Be od KINSMAN, I prefume you. trae to 
be happy here; and hereafter ; you know there 
are a thoufand difficulties which attend this. - 
purfuit ; fome of them perhaps you forefee,. 
but there are multitudes which you could 
never think of. Never truft therefore to your 
own underftanding in the things of this world, 

- where.you can have the advice of a wile and 
faithful friend ; nor dare venture the more 


_ important concerns of your foul, and your  ~ . 


eternal interefts in the world to come, upon: 
sstibe mere light of nature, and the dictates of 
Ek. 2. 


a 


es ae 
; 126" THE suet agin 


your own reafon; fince the Sod, 
and “the advice of heaven, lies’ in’ yout 
hands. Vain and thoughtlefs indeed are thofe’ 
children of pride, who choofe to turn Heath-— 
ens in the midft of Great-Britain ; who’ live 
upon the mere ‘religion of nature’and their 
own ftock, when they ‘have been trained: ‘up 
among all the {uperior ‘advantages of chrii~ 
tianity, and the bleflings of divine revelation 
« and grace. ee 

Il. Whatfoever your civduinfanees! may 
be in this world, {till value: your bible as your 
~ beft treafure ; and whatfoever be your em- 
ployment here, ftill look upon religion as your 
beft bufinefs. Your bible contains. eternal 
life in it, and all the riches of. the: upper” 
world ; and religion is the only way to be-_ 
come a pofleffor of thems) > 

I. To dire&t your carriage @waids.God, 
converte particularly with the book of Pfalms ;, 
David was.a man of fincere and eminent de-- 
votion. To behave aright among mer, ac- 
quaint yourfelf with the whole book of Prov- 
erbs : Solomon was a man of large experience 
and wifdom. And to perfeét your direétions 
in both thefe, read the Gofpels : and the Epif- 
tles ; you will find the beft of tules and the 

belt of examples there, and thofe’ more im- 
mainly fuited to the chriftian life.” 
“EV: Asa man, maintain ftriét :Pinevaiee 
aid fobriety, by a wife government Of yout’ 
appetites and paffions >-asa sieaalss ae 


THE BEAUTIES) OF DR. WATTS: tat 


ge 


“ence and hadae all around. you’ tobe’ your 
friends,’ by a temper and carriage made. ‘up: 
of prudence and goodnefs 5 and let the poor 
| have a certain fhare in all your yearly: profits.’ 
» As a trader, keep that golden fenntence of our 
_ Saviour’s ever before you, ‘““Whatfoever you , — 
- would that «men fhould do unto: ii do: 
you alfo unto them.” 

~V. While you make the precepts. of fcrip~ : 
ture the conftant rule of your duty,youi may: 
| with courage reft upon the promifes of {crip-- 
ture as the fprings of your encouragement. 
| All-divine affiftances and divine recompences. 
are contained in them. The fpirit of light 
and grace is promifed to affift them that afk 

it. Heaven and glory are promifed to reward.’ 

_ the faithful and the obedient. 

VI. In every affair of life, begin with God.. 

- Confult him in every thing that concerns you. 

~ View him as the author of all your bleffings, 

and all your: hopes, as your befl friend, and 

» your eternal portion,, Meditate on him in 
~ this view, with a continual. renewal of your 
- troft in him, and a daily furrender of yourtelf 
_ to him, till:you feel that you love him mott 

entirely, that you ferve him with fincere de- 

_ light, and that you cangot live a day without 
~ God in the world. 

Vil. You know. iomelels to be a-man, 

- an indigent Creature and a finner,’ and. you, 
pce tobe a Chriftian, a difciple. of ‘the, 

befied Jefus : but never think you know 


>. 


Bite ha!) oll bax x 
PCE Raga Se tee ee ees 


128 THE BEAUTIES. oF pi. WATTSe - 
co ESAS | bs ei RRR 


Chrift nor yourfelf as you you ought, 1 ind’ 
a daily need of hini for righteoufnefs and 
ftrength, for pardon and tiation. and. 
~ let him be your conftant introducer to the 
great God, though he fits upon abe of 
grace.. Remember his own words, Fobmxiv. 6. 
“ No man cometh tothe Father but by me.’” 
VIII. Make prayer a pleafure and not » 
tafk, and then you will not forget nor omit 
it. If ever you have lived in a praying fa-* 
mily, never let it be your fault if you do not’ 
live in One always. Believe that day, that» 
hour, or thofe minutes, tobe all wafted and 
loft,which any worldly pretences would tempt’ 
you to fave out of the public worfhip ef the 
church, the certain and conftant duties of they 
clofet, or any neceflary: fervices for God and: 
godlinefs. Beware left a blaftattendit, andnot 
ablefling. If God had not referved one day” 
in feven to himfelf, } fear religion would have" 
been loft out of the world ;- and every 
day of the week is expofed to a curle senceans 
has no morning religion. = 
IX. See that you watch and dadioasr3: as 
well: as pray. _ Diligence: and dependence: 
muft be united in the practice of every 
Chriftian. It is the fame wife manacquaints’” 
us, that the. hand of the diligent, and the 
bleffing of the Lord, join together to make 
us rich, Prev. x. 4, 22. rich mm the treafures., 
of body or mind, of time or inochi is Bry 


” 


edi aus 
® 
ae aa 


j 
+3 


ee 


| THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 129 


Ht is! your ‘duty indeed, under a fenfé of 
“your own weaknefs, too pray daily againft 
‘fin 5 but if you would effe&ually avoid it} 
seh mut alfo avoid temptation, and every 


angerous opportunity. Setardouble guard. — - 


wherefoever you'teel or fufpeét an enemy: at 

hand. © The world-without,and the heart 

within, have fo much flattery and decéitiin 

them, that we'muft keep a fharp eye upon 

both, left we are trapt: into- mifchiet ep ong 

then. 

- & Honour, profit, and. leaana have 

been fornetimes called the world’s- Trinity; 

they:are its three chief idols; each of them 

is fufficient to draw a foul off from God, and 

Tuin it forever. Beware of them there- 

fore and of all their fubtle anigeeverege 

if you would be innocent or happy. ©). 

~ Remember that the honour which comes 

from God; the approbation of heaven, and 

of your own confcience, are infinitely more 

valuable than all the efteem or applaule of 

men. Dare not venture one ftep out of ‘the 

road of heaven, for fear of being laughed at 

for walking ftri€tly. in it. It.is a poor relis | 
ion that cannot ftand againtt : a jeft. 

~ Sell not your: hopes of heavenly treafures, 

hor any thing that belongs to your eternal in< 

tereft, for any of the advantages of the pres 
fent © life: « What fhall it profit a maa 
4 i gain the. bc gc avery and lofe, = ; 
t¢ ul i 


eine 2". soem 


= 
139 THE BEAUTIES OF sueheR ied 


‘Remember alfo the words of the: wile 1 man, n, 
. He ‘that loveth pleafure fhall be a 
“man 3” he that indulges sigs ib in “ vin 
' “and ei, ” that is drinkin 
in fenfaal gratifications, * bane be sich.” ; 
It is one of Paul’s characters of a moftdegene- 
rate age, when “‘men become lovers of plea- 
‘<fufe more than lovers of God.” And that 
Su flethly lutts war againft the: foul,” is St. ‘Pes 
ter’s caveat to the Chriftians of his time. 
XI. Preferve your confcience always fol 
and fenfible. If but one fin force its way 
into that tender part of ,the foul, and dwell 
ealy there, the road is Leia fora thoufand 
iniquities. Ps ASH + 41 
And take heed that tee 78 any {cruple, 
doubt or temptation: whatfoever; you ne er 
let any reafonings: fatisfy. your conicience, 
which will not be.a fuffitient anfwer on apol- 
ogy to the great Jadge.atthe laft day.) ci 
XII. Keep thisthought ¢verin yor 


It is a world of vanity and vexation in which 
you live ; the flatteriesand; promifes of it 
vain and deceitful. 5 prepare ie cl 
meet difappointments. . ' Many ofits occur+ 
rences are teizing and vexatious. In every 
ruffling ftorm without, poffeis, your: itt’ In 
patience, and_ let Fy the — en: 
within. Clouds an tempefts,are 

in the: lower, fkies’; the heavens above ate 
~ ever bright/and:clear, Let! your, heart and 
hope dwell much in thefe ferene regions ; ia 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 131 


as a ftranger here on earth, but as a citizen 
of heaven, if you will maintain a foul at 
eafe. - . 

XIII. Since in many things we offend all, 
and there is not a day pafles which 1s per-~ 
fectly free from fin, let “ repentance towards, 
“© God, and faith in our Lord Jefus Chrift’ 
be your daily work. A frequent renewal of 
thefe exercifes which make a Chriftian at 
firft, will be a conftant evidence of your fin- 
cere Chriftianity, and give you peace in life, 
and hope in death. . 

XIV. Ever carry about with you fucha 
fenfe of the uncertainty of every thing in 
this life, and of life itielf, as to put nothing 
_off till to-morrow, which you can convenient- 

ly do to-day. Dilatory perfons are frequent- 
ly oppofed to furprife and hurry in every 
‘thing that belongs to them: the time is 
come and they are unprepared. Let. the 
concerns of your foul and your fhop, your 
trade and your religion, lie always in fuch or- 
_ der, as far as poffible, that death, at a fhort 
| watning, may be no ocCafion of a difquiet- 
ing tumult in your fpirit, and that you may. 
 efcape the anguifh of a bitter repentance in 
adying hour. Farewel. 
_..Phronimus, a confiderable Eaft-land mer- 
_ chant, happened upon a’ copy of thefe ad- 
vices about the time when he permitted his 
_ fon to commence a partnerfhip with him: in 
his trade ; he tranfcribed them with his owa’ 


pen J 
332 THE BEAUTIES AE ‘a 


hand, and made a prefent o} 
youth, together with the ar r 
fhip. Here, young man, fai sues p 
of more worth-than thefe articles. Read a 
ever once a month, “tillat 4 is wrought in Your 
very foul'and temper. Walk by thefe tee 
and I can truft my eftate in your hands, 
Copy out thefe counféls im your lite, and you 
will pace me and yourfelf ealy ; and happy. 
MISCEL. Ry pe a ha onli ’ 
Ub ad 
i i 


weir id, 


. -— ; bie, ‘s z- 
“e es iM 
AGAINST INDULGING ihe p ANGRY ¥ PASSIONS. 4 


- "TAKE care ok giving ab the rare 


for - 


te an angry paffion, though it preten 
its object, left it run to an ungor yerni 
cefs. It is St. Paul's countel, ” 
** and fin not,” Ephef. iv. 26. fo hat | it 18 
be angry upon any account without fir ling. 
it was a happy comparifon (whofoever firit 
invented it) that the paffioms of our Sa ; 
_ were like pure water in a clearglafs 5 hake 
it never fo much, and it is pure ftill; ‘there 
was no defilement in his holy foul by the | 
warmeft agitation ofall thofe.powers of his ‘i 
-dnimal nature ; but. ours are like water with | 
smud at the bottom, and we can’ > fhake 
the glafs with the gentleft motion, but the 
snud arifes, and diffwles itfelf makes ee 


i 


_ . THE BEAUTIES OF DR.WATTS. 133 


7 ne both the water and the veffel.. Our iraf- 
‘ible paffions can fcarce be indulged a mo- 
: ent, but they are ready to defile the whole, 


| MISCEL, THOUGHTS, P. 268. 
~~ Where the mere appearance of an angry 
e. ; ; 

‘paffion will attain the fame end, I would not 
‘choofe to’ give myfelf the trouble and inquie- 
-tude of feeling a real one. Why fhould I 
fuffer my blood and fpirits to rife into difor- 
‘der, if the picture of anger in my counte- 
‘nance, and the found of it imitated in my 
woice, will effectually difcourage and reprove 
the vice I would forbid? If I am but wife 
‘enough to raife the appearance of refentment, 
‘I need not be at the pains to throw mylelf 
‘into this uneafy ferment. Is it not better ~ 
‘for me, as a man and a chriftiin, to maintain 
‘a calm, fedate averfion to fin, and exprefs my 
‘diflike of it, fometimes at leaft, rather by a 
}counterfeit than real anger. If hypocrify be 
dawful any where, furely it may be allowed in 
this cafe to diffemble. ; 


MISCEL. THOUGHTS, P. 267 


sath 4 4 ead 
aH REASON oF OURS pe OL 
| ABLES. Fe 
day ey ay Bh, cas 
SINCE thee cagielh of cit Sapo be 
cerning “eating his fleth and drinking - 
« blood,” foundvery y harfhand abfurd in the Zi 
teral fenfe of btekss 4 we mutt then feek « 
-plaineft and truelt: figurative fenfe : now tl 
_ Gsivery ‘near at hand, aad might’be © 
~ 40 thofe among them who had 
ath, prophets with care. ~ Wk 
that the “livingybread is his ehh, 
S gives for the life Of the world,” 
at gives an intimation. that!his fleth ’ 
was to be :broken oridie a 
of atonement for our guilt 
death ; which was. not prop 
too, publicly and plainly.in hist 
vfurther that his blood ‘was to.’ 
wemiffion of Our fins,sand-to 
_ ais = and: that! we: malt’ nots, 
Mottrine, but we mult trot 
~-remiffion, and feed upan this facri 
_as the Jews eat part of their facrific 
that we muft live upon, i it by trufti . 
And fince the ‘Meffiah was’ foreto 
made an offering for fin byt 
fince feeding upon fin-offerin 
to the Jewith religion, L wig, 
latinas lefs hearers “might ve at lot 


4 GHE BEAUTIZS OF. DR4AWATTS, 135 


4 


of the fenfe and meaning of our ‘Saviour’s 
pe abies in this figurative language. 

But“ fuppsie: the Tews whei Ke firfi{pake 
it could not well underit tand him, confider 
they had-abufed this perfon, arid dendeéd ‘his 
doctrine, and having to far rejected the light, 
| they deferved tobe Jéft. in darknets, amidit 
| figures, and parables; as Chrift —— ea 
| clanes), Mearkiiww. $24.0 .290%t "q 
_ -ebddd-yet further, there az taciguet slither 
whicheChrift in his life-time. tpake) in! pro- 
phetic or parabolical language, for thisreafon; 
_as\1 before hinted, that they were not firand 
} proper, to be fpoken. too plainly at that fea 
fom; but he left ‘the .expreffions to) be exs 
; plainedeby.the events.:o Phe deatl of Chrifts 
| which was not far off; and the: miunfiryof the - 
_ apoftles quickly. afterward reprefenting: ‘his 
_ death/as 4) ptopitiation for our-fins, gave tsa 
| plain-clew to Jead us into the fenfe of Chit 
| inthefe figuiatve and prephétic fpeeches, vali . 
. which are dochappily:accommodable:to -thefe _ 
| adeas andidoGrines of Chrifi’s: atonement: for 
~ fin, and) our faith therein; as-gives. much fat- 
- isfadtion .to othe thinking: reader, ves toa: 


were defigned and: intended berehy.. oad 
be RON FR: ae io 
ys vas. a i REDEEMER. ab 8 Saneririzns . i 
. bea Bndiseekioss 2a OF Io cturye 22 1 cin 
B oad oa Moises te dt = jyaemensé 
O08 chau ee Ba Hiv wc i oe 

4 - i Paes : t ; 
r - a iat “un - 7 * ct L 

i 


ok 36 


wi 


ON THE SACRIFICE OF OUR 


ligion to us in the brighteft and faireft light, — 
and lays the ftrongeft. obligations on’ us to — 
perform all the duties of it ; yet it ftill fup- , 
pofes the impoffibility of our falvation there- 
by, through our own incapacity'to perform — 
thefe duties perfectly ; and therefore at fets 
forth to our view the blefled: facrifiee sof the © 
Son of God, which is the only true and-prop- — 
er facrifice for our fins. Nor-does it fet this 
atonement in the room of our endeavours af- _ 
- ter inward religion and real virtue, but in the — 
room of all other facrifices whatfoever, wheth- 
er Jewith or gentile. As for all the J 
‘offerings, they were but’ appointed 
the facrifice of ‘Chrift, and could n 
atone for the fins of mankind againft 
ruler of the world. And the facrific 
Gentiles, what were they, but fi 
and offerings of beatts or men 


tars, fuch as God never 2 


Atonement. This is the moft 
of St. Paul, in Rom, vili. 13. — 
‘‘ condemnation of them who 
“ Jefus,” 7, e. who truft in him 


& 
Sd 


Ey, : ; 5 : - 
THE BEAUTIES-OF DR. WATTS. § 437 


_ ef their pardon,.and.“ who walk not after the 
 fleth, but after the Spirit,” ze. who live | 
holy lives: ‘what the law could not do im - 
_ © that it was weak,” and unable to juftify us 
through “ the flefh,” z ¢.. through our ma- 
bility to. perform it, God_has done this by 
fending his own Son in the likenefs of fin-- 
- fal. flefh, and a facrifice for fin, (as ’tis in 
the Greek) has condemned in the flefh,’” 
_ &c. and thus-made a way through his facri- | 
fice of atonement. for our juftification. and: 
fanctification.. ae a RAC Bol 
But left the force and’ fignificancy of any’ 
of thefe {criptures fhould be loft for want ofa. 
true idea.of what | mean by a.‘ proper and’ 
compleat. atonement.made “ for the fins of - 
“men,” I would here give fome general ex- 
plication of what I intend by the word. f 
do noi pretend to fuch accuracy and exact- 
~nefs of definition, as might: be expected from: 
_a civilian, or a.divine ;* but I would {peak- 
what I take to.be the common fenfe of the 
thinking part of mankind in this matter, and 
‘more particularly the fenfe of the. writers of 
the Old and New Teftament. a 
By atonement. for fin therefore, I do not: 
_ mean any fuch thing-as fhall-in.a proper and: 
' 7 me, Nae rT oRe 


 * The author does not fpeak here in his own charaétér of a cler=. 
- gyman : in the preface to the work from which this extraét is made,s 
.. he fays, ‘¢ Let‘itbe'remembered that this book is but a fort of con~- 
: “ verfation~piece among a few private friends, who pretend. notte’ 
Sy 


t 


mean therefore fome torlfome and’ painful 
fas Chrift ‘the Son of God, in the ‘room'an@ 


i38 THE Cre a, 


Fiteral fenfe appeafe the wrath’ of God, th ‘ 
offended Governor, which is” »pofed to be 
kindled againft his finful creatures, and fhalt’ 
incline his heart to mercy, which was bctore 
determined upon vengeance; for the thie 
dottrine may be reprefented fometimes after. , 
the manner of men, yet this is an idea or fup- 
pofition in many refpects inconfiftent with the 
attribates and actions of the bleffed'God, and 
with the doétrine of the New Teftament. Tn 
that book God reprefents hiafelf as “rich in | 


- mercy,” and for this reafon he ‘pitied fintul , 


creatures, who had broken his law, and bad’ 


-deferved to die, before’ he had tecdived: any 


atonement ;' and’ therefore God himfelf. pro- 
vided ahd! (ent “his own Miele to become.a {a- 
crifice and atonement, and,a ranfom for them ¢ 


he appointed him to-be'a furety for us, “the - 


*‘juft and the unjuft,” and to’ fuidier deat oT: 
the room and ftead of inners. 7-9 
’ By the words atonement or propitiation, k 


= =F 
= +e. Es 


thing to be done or fuffered, or both, ‘by. 


ftead of finiul men, as a penance or punith _ i 
ment on the account of their fins; and this — 
by the wife and righteous” appointment: of, ) 
God the univerial Governor, fhall excufe the 
penitent offender from the punithment that — 
was due, and obtain his pardon, becaule it 
fhall pive a recompence to the authority ‘of 
the divine Lnaggeres for the ve which was 


: nek a, iy (4s a 
f Hes 
E : 


‘THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. _ 139 


i put upon him by the fins. of. men, iad fhall 
make fome reparation’of honour to his holy- 
law which was broken. And>this is not only 
| intended to manifeft the evil nature and the 
. of fin, together with God’s hatred: of 
3 but it fhall alo anfwer the demand and 
{ defizn of the threatening by fuch aévual. paia 
or punifhment, though ’tts: laid on the furety 
inftead of the offender ;. and thus it may fe- 
cure the law from being wilfully broken, in 
_time to come, as effectually as if the offenders 
themifelves had been punifhed. Sucha pain; 
' pehance,.or punifhment, are the humihation © 
; ane fufierings of Jefus Chrift, hislabours,and 
forrows » and ’tis in this fenfe that the lan- 
- guage of expiation or atonement, of propitia- 
tion and ranfom, is fo often ufed.* ’Tisin © 
_ this fenfe that he was faid to become a’ “* fa- 
_ “ crifice for us, to bear our fins on his own 
- * body on the tree,” and ‘* to be made fin,” 
EOF anfin offering for us, who knew no fin’ 
- himfelt ; in this fenfe he is faid to be “ made * 
a curfe;” and “ fuffer death for us,’ and 
_ to “ redeem us from it” thereby, becaufe the 
Jaw curfes' every finner, and pronounces death 
upon him. Now by thefe appointed fuffert 


-_ 


* Chrtt, after he bicatne! bh furety, was not, nor could:-be delive 

| ‘cred from thofe ferrows which were the punithment of our fins, he 

¥ belng a2 our expiatory facrifice, not only on the océafion of our fins) 

hat in our feat, to beat” the punifhment ig our inquity. "Whisky 
von Heb. %. 3. ; é 


140 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS, 


ings of the Son.of God, in the room.and ftead 
of finful men, there is an honourable amend i 
made to the Governor of the world. for the’ 
violation of his law, and a ; glorious way made 
for the exercife of mercy in the pardon of the 
finner ; and that without any imputation of 
reflection upon the holinefs of God’s nature’ 
and conduct, or any fufpicion of the juftice” 
ef his government, as. if he woukd connive at 
fin ; fince he difcovers and declares, that in 
his paffing by all the fins. of his people in for- 
mer ages, and in pardoning and “ juttifying”” 
inners now “ who believe im Chrift,” he will 
manifeft juftice or righteoufnefs by requiring; 
fuch a facrifice whereby fin fhall be punifhed, 
though the finner be {pared. This is the 
plain meaning of the apoftle, Rem. ill.24, 25, 
26, “ Being juftified freely by his grace, 
“through the redemption that is in Jefus- 
“ Chrift, whom God hath fet forth tobe a~ 
“ propitiation through faith in his blood, to: 
“ declare his righteou{nels for the remiffion: ‘| 
“ of fins that are paft, through the forbears 
**ance of God >to declare,I fay, at this time 
“ his righteoufnels, that he might be juft, and: 
* the juftifier of him that believeth in Jefus:”” 
which text our fathers have ever. thought an. 
unanfwerable proof as well as a clear explica- 
tion of this dodtrine... And I. think there is. 
abundant reafon in fcripture for us to fupport’. 
this fentiment.of our fathers, though all the 
modern writers fhould agree to oppole it. 


REDEEMER AND. sancrEnamts Pe- oe 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 142 


é a 


_ CURIOSITY TO BE ENCOURAGED IN YOUNG PER- 
As SONS. 


_ CURIOSITY isa ufeful fpring of know! 
edge : it fhould be encouraged in children, 
and awakened by frequent and familiar meth- 
ods of talking with them. -It fhould be in- 
dulged in youth, but not without a prudent 
moderation. In thofe who have too much 
it fhould be limited by a wife and gentle re- 
ftraint or delay, left by wandering after every 
thing, they learn nothing to perfection. In 
thofe who have too little, it fhould be excit- 
ed, leit they. grow ftupid, narrow tpirited, 
felf-fatishied, and,never attain a treafure of 
ideas, or an aptitude of underftanding. _ 


tee ~ POSTHUMOUS WORKS, P. IG. 
tS: 3 


5 4 ' * 

ye ee sane ‘ 
FAULT OF YOUNG PREACHERS REPROVED. 

-. YOUNG Preachers juft come from the 
fchools, are often tempted to fill their fermons 
with logical and metaphyfical terms in ex- 
plaining their text, and feed their hearers 
with fonorous words of vanity. This {cholaf- 
tic language, perhaps may. flatter their own 
ambition, and raife a wonderment at their 


r 


142 ‘THE BEAUTIESIORDRsMWATISY 


learning among the ftaring multitude, witties 
out any manner of influence toward the in- 
ftrbétion of thé isnoraiif’ 
of the immoral or imiprOus + thefe terms of 
art are but the tools of an artificer 2 which 
his work is-wrought i in'’priv: te 5 He-tonis 
era not’ to appear th ne fiith ork 
thip: i 
raid te 1 a 
: we Naat? ae | 


: aT, shoal 


GENTLENESS OF ADDRESS dueeetvcom convine 
°- | Gane Our OPPONENTS. et eats ts 


seh SES PR As 
<i 


THE ide aha geutletta te tot | 
erroneous, is the beft way to ¢ 

of their miftake. Sometimes ite neceflary x 
reprefent to. your onpoaenty! that he ‘could ain 
off-from the. truth, in 


eftablith whatever. he at that rE an 
true, as our bleffed Stee ; 
{cribe, when be an{wered well concerning 
two great commandmeéfits } YOU 
“far, fays‘our Lord, ‘from the : 
“heaven,” ‘Mark xii. 34. Imitate the mild= 
nefs and conduct of the blefféd'Jefase® . 
~ Come as near to your opponent as'you 

in all your bbe ape ane’ pias iim as 


Pac voted 


ij | PHE/BEAUTIES OF DR! WATTS. 145 


' much as you dare, in 4 confiftence with truth 

| and juttice. 

©? Vis‘a very great and fatal miftake in per- 

fons who attempt -toconvince or reconcile 
“others to their party, when they make the 

difference appear as wide as pdffible : this is 

_ fhocking to any perfon who is tobe convin- 

ced; he wiil-chooije rather to. keep and main- 
tain bisown opinions, if he cannot comeinto 
yours without renouncing and abandoning 
every ‘thing that he believed before. -Human 
nature mult ~be flattered a little as well as 
reafoned with, that fo the argument may be 

_able tocome at his underftandiug, which oth- 
erwifé will be thrutt of at a diftance, If you 
chargez aman with nonfenfe and abfurdities, 

-with herefy and 4e!f-contradiction, yourtake a 
overy wrong, flep towards convineing him. 

_. »Rememaber that error 1s not:to be rooted 
sout of the micd of man by reproachiags and 
iwailings, by flafhes of wit and biting jeits, by 

doud exclamations or tharp ridicule : long de- 

-¢lamations and: triumph over our neighbour’ 3 

- mailtdke, will not prove the way to convince 

vhims. ae are figns either of a bad cauie, or 
-of- ‘arguments. or Capacity oe the de- 

etna @ good ony 


re ees iy fise _ - BOSTHSMOUS woRKS, P. 240 
- ,nolss1 ‘bee consid no? 10 50 ; 
wwenauelal to euagia 2 


S A&P & RAGA CUOMTHT ECG 


X44 THE BEAUTIES OF DRAWATTS. 


THE PROGRESSIVE EXPIRATION OF E 
et AUTHORITY. 


Ti is nied to fay at! aiid ‘eee itecie f 
life, the child is exempted from the fovereign-. 
ty of parental dictate’. Perhaps it is much 
jufter to fuppofe that this fovereignty dimin 
ifhes by degrees as the child grows in under-~ 
_ ftanding and capacity, and i is more. and more 
capable of exerting his own intelleétual pow-— 
ers, than to limit this matter y: months and _ 
years. See. 

When childhood and youth are fo far. hic 
pired, that the reafoning faculties are gr 
up to any juft meafure of maturity, it rect) 
tain that perfons ought to begin to enquire 
‘into the reafons of their own faith: 

_tice in ali the affairs of life and religion : an 
as reafon does not arrive at this power and 

felf-fufficiency in any fingle moment of ti 
fo there is no fingle moment when a child — 
- fhould at once caft off all its former beliefs 
and practices ; but by degrees and inflow 
fucceffion he thould examine them.as oppor 
tunity and advantages offer ; and either. con-" 
firm, or doubt of, or change them, accord-— 
_ ing to the leadings of confeience and reafon, 
with all its ts bet advantages of informs ees , 


POSTHUMOUS watts ae 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 145 


IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE DUE TO DIVINE REVELATION. 


~ WHERE doétrines: of divine revelation 
‘are plainly publithed, together with fufficient 
‘proofs of their revelation, all mankind are 
bound to receive them, though they cannct. 
perfectly. underftand them ; for we know that 
God 1s true, and cannot aiftate falfhood. 


f POSTHUMOUS WORKS, P. 44. 


nee, 


ee 


NCIENT ROUGHNESS AND MODERN REFINEN MENT 
OF LANGUAGE CONTRASTED AND res, 


: SOME of out fathers hestedtda politene’ 
perhaps too much, and indulged a coarfenets 

of ftile, and a rough or aukward pronuncia- | 
tion ;- but we have fuch a value for elegancy, 
and fo nice a tafte fer what we call polite, 
that we dare not {poil the cadence of a period 
to quote a text of fcripture in it, nor difturb 
the harmony of our fentences, to number or 
to name the heads of our difcourfe. And for 
this reafon, 1 have heard it hinted, that the 
name of Chrift has been banifhed out of po- 
lite fermons, becaufe it is a-monyfyllable of 


fo nany confonants, and fo harfh a found. 
POSTHUMOUS WORKS, P. 84, 


= ‘ 
ratte ae 


146 THE BEAUTIES oF raw rs. 


i 
Fs tart 


: 4 ¢ 2) 
ADVICE TO AUTHORS . 


AS a writer ora fpeaker fhould not el 
from his fubje€t to fetch in foreign matt 

from afar, fo neither fhould he amafs togeth- 
er and drag i in all that can be faid, even on 
his appointed theme of difcourfe ; but he 
Ahould confider what is his chief defign, what 
‘Js the end he hath in view, and then to make 
every part of his difcourfe fubferve that de- 
. fign. If he keep his great end always in his 
eye, he will pafs haftily over thofe parts or 
appendages of his fubject which have no ev eve 
dent connection with, his defign, or he will 
entirely omit them, and haften continual 
towards his intended mark ; employing. his 
time, his ftudy and his labour, chiefly on that 
part of his fubje&t which is moft neceflary 

attain his _ and proper end. | 


>: Lye hice WOR! 


’ When an author denied ‘a 4 Gea & to revi 
his work, it is too frequent a praétice te 
allow almoft every correétion whit 
cious ffiend would make; he a 
this word, and the other expreffio 
- dicates this fentence, and gives: 
for another paragraph, and {care 
mits to correction ; and this ucte! 


ages the freedom that a ie e fi | 


wa 
x 
& . 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS» 147 


take, i in pointing out our miftakes. Such 
"writers who are {fo full of themfelves, may go 
on to admire their own uncorrect perform- 
“ances, and expofe their works and their follies 
; Bf. the world without pity. 


POSTHUMOUS WORKS, P. 8g, © 


If you have not the advantage of friends 
to furvey your writings, then read them over 


yourtelf, and all the way confider what wilt’ 


be the fentence and judgment of all.the vari- 
ous characters of mankind upon them : think 
what one of your own party would fay, or 
what would be the fente of an adverfary : 
‘imagine what a curious or a malicious man, 


what a captious or an envious critic, what a — 


vulgar ora learned reader would object, eith- 
er to the matter, the manner, or the flile : 
and be fure and think with yourfelf, what you 
yourtelf could fay againft your own writing, 
if you were of a different opinion, or a ftran- 
-ger to the writer : and by thefe means: you 
will obtain fome hints, whereby to correct 
and improve your own work, and to guard it 
better againft the cenfures of the public, as 
well as to render it more ufeful to that part 
of mankind for whom you chiefly defign it. 


POSTHUMOUS WORKS, P. 90: 


148 THE BEAUTIES’ : 


See bs 


bet r sip et % et eh: he 
MLITHOD OF STRENGTHENING THE  MENORY 0 oF 
: CHEE rhea Tose 


L HAVE known children, ‘gue fom thel 
ear! ly years have been conftantly trained up 
and taught to remember a few fentences of a 
iermon “be fides the text, and by this means. 
have grown up by degrees to know all the 
cifling parts and brahehes of a difcourfe, and 
in time to write down half the fermon after, 
ilicy came homhe, to their own. confolatio. 1, 
and the improvement of their friends ; where- 
as thofe wno have been hever taught to ule 
their memories in their younger parts of i 
lofe every thing from their thoughts: when. it 
is pat off trom theit® ears, and. come ie: 

m noble and edifying difCourfes, cafe 
( f may be) with the tranfient found, 
commending the préacher, but uninflruged, 
unimpi coved without any. eigen d if knowl- 


i ecg re OF secs ’ J ft 
posrREMOUS Sah oe Aer 


RELIGIOUS AND MORAL DUTY ier ‘BE er 4 
GED IN CHILDREN: em on hos 
on “¥ aN 4 . » 


? 


CONSCIENCE is another ‘eaturabpowee 
of the fon, wherein the. ah? of nin 


| THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 149 


and rules of duty to God and man are to be _ 
laid up: it is fomething within us that calls. 

us to account for our faults, and by which. 

we pafs a judgment concerning ourfelves and’ 

} our actions. 

Children havea confeience’ within’ them,, 
and it thou'd be awakened early to its duty.. 
They fhould be taught to reflect and look 
- back upon their own behaviour, to call them-. 
felves- often to: account, to compare: theis 
' deeds with thofe good rules and principles 
laid up in their minds, and to fee how far 
_ they have complied with them, and how far’. 

they have neglected them. Parents thould. 
teach their cinidren to pay 4 religious refpect 
to the inward dictares of virtue within thern,> 
_ to examine their actions continuaily by the 
light of their own. confciences, and to Tejoice 
when they can approve themfelves to their 
, Own minds, that they have aéted well accord-- 
ing to the beft of their knowledge : they 
- ought alfo to attend to the inward reproofs of 
-conicience, and mourn, and be afhamied, and 
repent when they have finned againft. their: 
‘light. It is of admirable ufe toward all the 
practices of religion and every virtue, to have 
confcience well ftored with good per 
and to be always kept tender and watchful ; 
it is proper that children fhould learn to rev- 
erence and obey this inward monitor betimes,. 
that every wilful fin may give their confciences: 
A 


_ 


¥ 


160 THE BEAUTIES OF B 


’ children, and hath fixed in their con. 
vga 1 a 


ine 


a fenfible pain and uneafinefS, and 
may be difpofed to pee NR 

- to confiderations of confeiente, and to | 
any extremities rather than att contrary to 


a POSTHUMOUS Wo; 


eg 
Mi 
ai 


C 


' * es AOD et fe 


kek Oe trios 
wer FT eee 


FLL CONSEQUENCES OF TERRIFYING YOUNG 
. "BY DISMAL NARRATIVES. 5 


Alea Le 


terrify their tender minds with difmal 
of witches and ghofts, of devils and evil 
its, of fairies and bu bears Mi age 
hath had a moft mifchievous effect 


‘ : 2 : ¥} 38 sit 
LET not any perfons that are_ne; 


{uch a rooted flayery and fe 
_fcarce dared to be left alo 
efpecially in the night. “ 
made fuch a deep and frightful im 
‘their tender fancies, that it hath | 
their fouls, it hath broken their fj 
it hath grown up with them, and 
with their religion, it hath k 
foundation for melancholy a 
forrows. Let thefe fort of inform 
referved for their firmer years, ar 
net be told in their hearing bl 


- ter judge what truth or reality 


them, and be made fenfit le h 
owing to romance and fiction, — 


‘THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 151 


Nor let their little hearts be frighted at 


three or four years old with fhocking and 
_ bloody hiffories, with maflacres and martyr- 
_ doms, with cuttings and burnings, with the 
_ images of horrible and barbarous murders, 


with racks and red hot pincers, with engines, 


_ of torment and cruelty, with mangled limbs, 


and carcafés drenched in gore. Its time 
enough, when their fpirits are grown a little 
firmer, to acquaint them with thefe madneffes 
and miferiesof human nature. ‘There is no 


need that the hiftory of the holy confeffors 
‘and martyrs fhould be fet before theirthoughts _ 


fo early in all their moft ghaftly thapes and 
colours. Thefe things, when they are older, 


may be of excellent ufe to dilcover to them 


the wicked and bloody principles ef perfecu- 
tion, both among the Heathens and Papitts ; 
and to teach them the power of the grace of 
Chrift, in {upporting thefe poor fufferers un- 
der all the torments which they fuftained for 
the love of God and truth. ae 


POSTHUMOUS WORKS, FP. 116, 


PARTICULAR PARTS OF THE BIBLE NOT TO BE 
* READ BY CHILDREN. 


THERE fhould be a wife conduct in 
fhewing children what parts of the Bible they 


3s 


152 THE BEAUTIES OP DR, WATTS. 


fhould read ; for though the word of | God 
expreffeth all things with due decency, yet 
there are fome things which have been found 
neceflary to be fpoken of i in fcripture, both | 
in the laws of Moles, and in the * ‘ 
tion of the wickednefs of the Gentiles in the ' 
New Teftament, in which adult perfons have — 
been concerned, ‘which there is. no neceffity — 
for children to read and hear, and they may — 
be paffed over, or omitted among them. ‘The 
Jews were wont to withhold So/omon’s. fong 
from their children till they: were thirty years » 
old : and the late pious and pradent bilhop © 
Tillotfon (in a manutcript which I have feen) — 
wifhes that thofe parts of the Bible wherein — 
are fome of the affairs of mankind expretied. 
“ too naturally” (as ie calls it) were omitted 
in the public leflons of the church: I think — 
they may as well be excepted alfo out of the 
common lefions of children, . and ‘out of age 
ou courfe of reading in family worfhip, | 


POSTHUMOUS wore, B16. {4 


pe ee eae 
zx ———SSsSS080000 EE SSS SSS aa 


- RULES FOR MODERATING ate ANGER: 


OUR natures are fo eee it cori 
that itis very hard for us to give a loofe to any 
angry paffion agantt men, wi 
into fome featiments of malice. oF revenge. 


~ 


7 . a 


_* 


a \ 
St-14 


b “ 


.. THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 153 
and thereby finning againft God. Out anger 
| is very apt to kindle “about trifles, or upon 
- meré fufpicion, without juft caufe ; or fome- 
_ times rifes too high where the caufe may be 
| _juft ; or it continues too long, and turns in- 
to hatred : and in either of thefe three cafes 
it becornes finful. 
It istherefore with the utmoft caution that 
this paffion fhould ever be fuffered to arife ; 
and unlefs we» quickly fuppiefs it again; we 
 fhall be in great danger of bringing guilt up- 
~on our fouls. The bleffed apoftle therefore 
connects the permiffion, the caution, and 
reftraint together, Eph. iv. 26.** Be angry, 
*< and fin not: let not the fun go down up- 
_“ on your wrath,” 


DOCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS; P. 135 


Let your defires and averfions to the 
common objects and occurrences in this life 
be but few and feeble. Make it your daily 

- bufinefs to. moderate your averfions and de- 
fires, and to govern them’by reafon. This 
will guard you again{l many a ruffle of fpirit 
both of anger and forrow. 


DOCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS. P. 337. 


Softens not your thoughts to dwell on the 
injuries you have received, or of the provok- 
_ing words that have heen fpoken againft you. 
Not only learn the art of negleéting injuries 
at the time you receive them, but let them 


| grow lefs and lefs every moment, till they di 
out of your mind. Suffer not your mut ing 
imagination, when you are alone, to fwe 
and magnify the provocations that have been — 
given you, nor to blow up the fire = this. 
uneafy paffion. 

Avoid much converfation saditi ‘men of 
wrath, and endeavour to keep clear of all dif 
putes "with weak minds, with obftinate fpirits, 
and efpecially with perfons ofan angry and 

_ peevifh temper, as far as you can. If the 

flint and fteel {trike againft each other in a 

way of difpute, the {parks of fire will be rea- - 

dy to fly out, and the angry flame will be 
kindled. 

"© Love your neighbeurs as yourfelf. a You: 

- are not immediately kindled into wrath a-— 

gainft yourfelf, nor exprefs it with fuch vio- 

lence, though you have often done yourfelf 
more injury by your own fins than all ieee 

_ perfons ever ‘could do you. You do not | 

malice again{t yourfelf, nor hate youctel, 

though you have,~perhaps, fome evil qualities 4 

belonging to you, and you have often finned” 

againft your own foul : you forbear yourfelf 
long, and you forgive yourfelf aisle: learn 
bi to forbear and forgive your neighbours 


DOCTRINE OF THE tentae 


154 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. watts. a 


Rica 3 is a fhort pee 5 it thro 


perfon off his guard ; ; neither the truth © n 
-eafon appear to him as teafon or sarah zi 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS, 155. 


violence of the paffion throws off all re- 
'ftaints, the phrenzy difdains all law and juf- 
tice ; and drives. the man to wild extrava- 
gance. Is this the lovely, the defirable, pat- 
tern that you choofe to imitate ? Do you 
like this figure fo well as to put it on your- 
Bien. Tit ; Be 
Live always under the eye of God, and- 
fupprefs rifing anger with the reverence of 
his name and prefence. Remember that a 
‘holy God and holy angels behold you ; and 
are you not afhamed to appear in their fight 
under all the extravagant diforders of this 
paffion ? Remember the dignity of your na- 
ture as man, and your character as a Chrif- 
tian, and a child of God. 

Keep the facred example of Jefus ever be. 
fore your eyes : how meck under the vileft 
_affronts ! how patient under the radeft in- 
juries and moft barbarous treatment ! how 
forgiving eyen to his bloody murderers ! 
how did he return the higheft good for the 
_greateft evil! and paid down his blood and 
life to redeem his enemies from hell, and to 
putchafe eternal joy and glory for them ! 
«Let fuch a mind be in you 4s was in 
_* Chrifl the Son of God, who being reviled, - 
© reviled not again ; and when he {uffered, . 
“he threatened not : leaving us an example. 


‘ 


_“ that we fhould follow his {teps.” 


. DOCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS, P. 147s 


- 
‘ee 


SS. eo 
4 


bigge 2 fat es dai 
’ We mee a hy a 


: , ge : ai on Wye): ‘ans 
155 THE BEAUTIES OF ‘phe watts 


It is faid, concerning Julius Cat i 
on any provocation, he would repeat the Ro- 
man alphabet, before he fuffered himfel 
fpeak, that he might be “more juft 
calfh in his relentments. The delay of a 
'. few moments has fet many feeming aifronts 

_ in ajutter and kinder light ; it has often lef : 
fened, if not antahiea the fuppofed i injurys : 
and prevented violence and revenge. 


‘DOCTRINE oF THE FRSSTORA, P. Hy. 


7 
ty 


Think with oun how much | injur y 
you do yourfelf by fuffering your angry mt 
fions to rife and prevail. The fire of wrath _ 
and refentment preys upon your nature, 
deftroys your health and your eafe, fills 
your {pirits with tumults and, difquie- 4 
tudes, expofes you fo fhame before, m ny Z 


you under guilt before Ghar ‘and makes ay 
painful preparation for bitter. repentance 
Why will you punifh you urfelf ecaule 
another has injured you? or, if pa pan of 
be rude and wrathful, ill-natured “es ‘ill- -bred, 
why will you imitate him and _expol € your 
felf : Ne 
Think again, how much more pleai fea 
glory there is in Overcoming: ‘the v . 
your own fpirit, than in yielding: to your eat, P 
ftrong pafhons, and fuffering ro a 
carried away with the torrent of your own re-" 
-fentments. ‘ He that rules he own n fpirit ; ‘ 


e | 4 
‘THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 157 ‘ 


“ds .a greater ‘hero than be that conquers 
4 acity.” 

. Tobe angry saa triflesy: is mean and 
childifh ; to tage and be furious is brutith ; 
and to maintain “perpetual wrath -is akin to 
the practice andtemper of devils ; but ‘to 
prevent onfuppre(s:rifing refentment, as wile 
and glorious, 1s manly and divine. 

This one piece of conduc will raifé our 
reputation for.wifdom among men, more 
than a hundred fine fpeeches, or fupérior airs ; 
and will greatly adorn our characters as per- 
fons of picty. The wifdom that is from 
““ above is ee ee and eafy to be 
“* intreated.” - 


DOCTRINE OF THE iy EEE T45- 


Think with: yountel how many eveater 
crimes has the blefled God forgiven you, .if 
you are a Chriftian indeed ; and will you 
not forgive your brother his petty offences ? 
Has the Maker and Lord of heaven and 
earth forgiven you ten thoufand talents, and 
will you not forgive your brother a hundred 
pence ? Did the Son of God make himfelf 
a facrifice for your offences, that you might 
Le pardoned, and will you make your broth- 
er, who has offended you, a facrifice to your 
fury ? : 

But confider farther, that if you do not 
forgive your oh who-has offe :ded you, 


“458 THE DEAUTIES!OF DR: A, | 


- laborious digging } ? Have « 


rane oe ; 
you cannot expect to be fo 73 
it ds evident, according” te 
tence ‘of the ‘gofpely you: cant be forgive 
without it. “ If you for men th 
 trefpafies, neither will your heavenly Fat 
** forgive you.”? Do bathe bu | 
of your-trefpaffes, even’ ias ya 
who tre{pafs againft you, and 
your own prayers 2a. SOC 7 
Nat? sera sas . 


ra pert 2 sites t Tia) 5 Cok 


7 
4 


AGAINST INDULGING [IMPROSER 


RESTRAIN your aed 
_and all folicitous enquiries into 
were better unknown. | 
{prings of fear, forrow, ang 
have been found out. and br 


curious fearch into fach thing 
fafely remained for ever fecre’ 
rance of them! had ‘epenies 
. and hurtful paffions. “A fond 
know all that our ‘riedeet 

us is often recompenfed sith 
tudes and anguifh of foul. 


DOCTR ie 


‘FHE.BEAUTIES OF DRS WATTS. 159 


ae 


RABTUAL REFLECTING “UPON Jail RECOM. 
MENDED.” _- : 


LIVE! much in the expectation of ideath; 
ee in. the view and ‘hope of .eternal things. 
, Death! and judgment, leaven and hell, are 
-fuch’ grand and aivful ideas, that where they. 
are :duly, confidered, they will make’ the things 
of, this life appear fo very little and inconfid- 
erable, as /to be fearce worthy of our hopes — 
‘andy fears, our! defires:! and averfions, our’ 
wrath and refentniehts, our forrows and 4 joys. 
Such a fteady profpect’ and expectation of 
things infinite anil everlafling, will, by de- 
| grees, diffolve the force’ of -vifible and temi-- 
poral. thingsyjand make them unable. to raife 
any wild and unsuly paffions within us. Hap- 
a the foul that has a {trong and lively faith 

ae worlds, of future terrorsiand glo- 
ries t. this;wili cure: the vicious diforders of 
‘flefh: cand fenfe, appetite and paffion: this - 
will raife the fpirit of the: wings on devout! 
affection, to the borders of paradife, and at-- 
temper the, foul to the ,bufinefs and the joys 
of the blefied. 


3 -) DOCTRINE OF THE BAiSIONS, P. 17.65 


t60 THE BEAUTIES @F DR. WATTS. | 
‘ Wales he TS Btn sd 


i. t wan ~ 


( -* 


CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE pian 
CRUEL cr paint RY: eel 
NOR  fhould they ¢ ever be aticlied “tg 
practice thofe diverfions that carry an idea’ of 
barbarity and cruelty in them, tho’ it be but 
to brute creatures. They fhould not fet up. 
_ cocks to be banged with cudgels thrown at 
_ them about Shrovetide ; nor delight: in giv 
ing a tedious lingering death to a young lit- 
‘ter of dogs er cats, that may be appointed to 
be deftroyed and drowned, left they multi iply 
too much in a houfe : nor fhould they take 
pleafure in pricking, cutting or “mangling: 
young birds which they have 2 ht, nor 
ufing my favage and bloody | -actices. to= 


hearts grow hard and creing at ay 
learn in time to practice thee ¢ cruelties~ 


Fie elias mortals ; 3 or at rin oe ‘ine 
ferent to their pain and hear fo as to 0 
cafion i it without remorfe. EE ee! 

peel posTAY MOUS: cht By 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 161 


RELIGIOUS AND MORAL R2FLECTIONS ON THE. 


PRACTICE OF GAMING.. 


MANY young gentlemen have been there 
bubbled and cheated of large fums of mo- 
ney, which were given them by their parents 
to {upport them honourably in their ftations.: 
In fuch fort of fhops young ladies are temp- 
ted to fquander away too Jarge a fhare of their 


yearly allowance, if not of the provifion: 


which their parents have made for their whole: 
lives.. It is a‘ fatal fnare to both fexes: if — 
they win they are allured ftill onward, while, — 
according to their language, luck runs on 
their fide : if they lofe they are tempted to’ 
another and another caft of: the die, and en-- 
ticed on {till to frefh games by a delufive 
hope, that fortune will: turn: ;: and’ they fhall: 


recover all that they have loft. In‘the midft 


of thefe fcenes. their paffions rife‘ fhamefully,. 


a greedy. defires of gain: makes them: warm: 


and eager,. and new loffes plunge them fome- 
times into vexatiom and‘fury,. till the fon! is: 
quite beaten off from its guard, and. virtue 
and reafon have no manner. of comimand ‘Om 
ver them. oe hay 
My worthy friend Mr, Neal,. in his: Re- 
formation-Sermon,, has taken: occafion ‘not: 
only to inform us that “ merchants andi 
ent O12” iVSI4- AD if is 


brs hue 


162 °° THE “REAUTIES OF sii 


*e trade(men mix themfelves 40k thele farce 
-“ with men of defperate fortunes, and throw 
«the dice for their eftates.”” But in n'a ve ry 
decent and foft manner of addrefs, has. ene 
juired, Whether ublic ing in virtu- 
« ous ladies i is not. a tle eur ee rai er? 
“ Whether i it does not | ‘draw them jot to mix-— 
“ed company, ‘and give them. an air of t ‘bold- 
« nefs,. which i As. perfectly inconfiftent with — 
“that modefty, which is the: ornament of lee 


«“ ? > 
fair ex? Whether it dozs not ‘of Meee th a 


Shr foe ’ 


, “hours. By “Whether their “pal ions ; ah 


« loffes her “faftain have ‘not a eng hae : 
.* breed ill. blood in their families, a ; i 


“ ‘often obleryed, that gaming fea ; 
Re ufually been tre ih he eae F 
<t apes and esha ofthe fe 
“ (till more valuable, eo ik fe 
Th ih seven me eful S ile 
Aon i thefe be. the difmal, yer frequent | 
confequences.of the. -gaming-table,. the 138 
of alittle, money is one of the "Tae a jurie: 
you fuftain by 3 it. . But what if you { fhould 
{till come off gainers? Is this the w way th 
God ait taught or ae = to te 1 € 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 163° 
the! caft of the die, the’ ‘drawing’ “Of the’ lots y 
ot the dealing out ‘of the cards, | fo'as to en-’ 
ereafe your gain, while it is the very fenfe’ 
and language of thé prayer, that your neigh- 
- bout may fuftain fo much’ lofs #) This is a’ 
fad and ‘guilty circumftance which’ belongs’ 
to gaming, that ome can gain nothing but’ 
what another ‘lofes; and confequently we’ 
cannct afk a bleffing upon otrfelves, but at’ 
the fame time we pray fora blaft upon our - 
neighbour. 
Will you hope to excufe it by faying, that” 
my neighbour confents to this blaft or this. 
lofS by entering ihto-the game,’and there’ is 
no injury where there is confent ? : 
I anfwer, that though he confents to lofe 
conditionally and upon a venturous hope of 
gain, yet he is not willing to fuflain’the lof& 
ablolutely ’; but when either chahce) or ‘his’ 
neighbour’s ‘fkill in‘the game has determined © 
againft him, then he is conftrained to lofe, ’ 
and does it unwillingly ; “forthat he ftill fuf- 
tains it as a lofs, or’ misfortune,” ‘or “evil.” 
Now, it you! afk a ‘blefling from héayén’ on: 
this way of your getting money, you’ afk 
ther ‘abfolutely ' that’ ‘your néighbour imay | 
fuftain a lofs, without any regard to the con-’ 
dition of bis hope of gain. Your with and 
‘prayer is: direétly that you may get, and hé- 
may lofe: you ‘cannot with ‘this “good ‘to* 
yourfelf but you “with the contrary evil to 
. him; and therefore I think gaming for gain 


164 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATES 


cannot be confiftent with the laws of Ch it va 
which certainly forbid us to. with evil to our — 
neighbour. - ; 

“And if you: cannot fo mae as in thought ‘ 
afk Ged’s bleffing on this, as you certainly 
may on fuch recreations as have an evident 
tendency innocently to exercife the body and . 
relax the mind, it feems your. confcience fe- 
cretly condemns it, and there is anadditional 
proof of its being ‘evil to you. ; 

All the jufteft writers of morality, and the’ . 
beft; i have generally, if not. Segue : 
ly, determised againft. thefe methods of g ea" 
Wael oever game may be indulged Tlaetin” * 
it is ftill asa " recreation, and not: asa calling: . 
or bufinefS of life : and. therefore no larger 
fums ought to be rifqued or ventured i inthis ~ 
manner; than: what may, be lawfully laid ous. 
by any ‘perfons. for their prefent, recreation, 
according: to. theit different. circumitanees | 1p 
the world: | 

 Befides-all this, think of the lofs of time, 
and the waite of life that is continually made. 

dome who: frequent. thele gaming-places. 
Tice how it calls away many a.youth from, 
their proper bufinefs, and tempts. them 0; 
throw away. what. is not: their, own,. and - 
rifque the fubftance, as. well. as: the: difpl Pat 
. fure of their parents, or: of their ised ay 
all ths, uncertain hazards of a dice-b 


’ Pe Piss. eas Ns _TosTnMOU WON, Eon 
"i he j hele 2 lush Oa 


2A 

9 2 oe 

¥ © ty ae 

ee * Aa 


| eee vatr eres: WATTS. 166 


po Tey 1 
- ON PUBLIC DANCING ASSEMBLIES 


IT’ is acknowledged .to be proper. and- 
needful that young people fhould, be indulg- 
‘ed in fome recreations, agreeable to their 
age, and fuitable to the condition in’ which 
providence has placed them. But I would 
afk whether the great ‘and only valuable end. 
of recreation is to be expected from thefe 
midnight-affemblies, namely, ‘to adh = Or 
‘<from the fatigues of life; and to exhilarate 
*¢the fpirits, fo as thereby to fit us for the 
**-duties of life and_ religion?” ..Now..are 
thefe the proper means to fit us for the du- 
ties of either kind ? Pethaps it will be faid 
that dancing, which is practifed in thofe af- 
femblies, is an exercife conducive to health, 
and. therefore a means of fitting us for the 
duties of life. But may not the unfeafona- 
‘blenefs of the midnight-hour prevent and 
- over-balance the benefit, that might other-'. « 
wife be fuppofed to arife from the exercife ?, 
Is it likely that natural health fhould be pro- 
moted, or preferved, by changing the fea- 
fons and order of nature, and by allotting . 
_thofe hours. to exercife, which God and na-; ~ 
‘ture have ordained to reft ? Is the returning. 


home after five or fixhours dancing, through. .— 


the cold’ and damp of the midnight-air, a 


\ 


166 THE BEAUTIES OF B 
proper means. of prefervi 2 
ther, is it not more likely ta 
ftroy i it ? Have not thefe fatal effects 
too often felt ? Have’ age been facrif 
ces of human life offered to thi “mic 
idol ?° Have theré’been ino’ 
tyis to this unfeaforable’ folly 
fomeé of its’ flaves> who afte bécome 
labouring under fore’ ‘difeales, anc 
them fallen afleep in: ‘death ? Hav 
mufic and their dancing, inftea 
Fett in their peds,” “brought them 
~ Jong filente'in the grave, an 
ret ina’ bed of dult ? ‘Thofe ” an 
ces of human fatare, who were 
joy and hope: of their too in 
are now the bitternefs ‘of thei 
thofe very exercifes from. whet ence 
the ‘contineance of their aA as! 
pofed méins of confirming t 
health,” are become’ an everlatt 
their mourning.” — eat 
e's as thole midnight recreate 10 


pare tie} are more. mA oii aa 4 hi 
the dutiés of fligion. “The religion. of the” 
clofet is negleAed, the beautiful: re Sularity 
and order of the family ts broken ; ; and when 
the night has been turned into day, '; a good 
part of the’ next day’ eich 0 night 

while the duties of the 1 ‘. 


- 


’ THE BEAUTIESOF DR: WATTS. 167. 


God data; are unperformed. “Tholé ‘who 


“have frequented thefe affemblies know all 
this, and are my witneffes to the truth of it: 


Nay. the very practice itfelfy at-thofe unfeas 


fonable: hours, tells.‘all the world how much 
they prefer. thefe . dangerous amufements to 


-theworfhip of God ‘in the evening and’in ~ 


the morning; and to all the conventencies and 
decorum of family government. . Befides, if. 
Ifpéakito Chriftians,» have: you «tot found 
that ‘the indulgence: to this fort of .diverfions, 
whichrare ufually: practifed in thofe unfeafon- 
able affemblies, leads the mind away infenfi- 
bly ftom God.and :religion, gives a:vanity to 

the: {pirit, ‘and greatly: abates the {pirituai 
and heavenly temper which fhould belong to 
Chriftians ? Hath:it not taken away the fa- 
vour/of godlinefs.aad ‘tincture: of ‘piety from 
fome' younger: minds? And do elder Chrifti+ 
ans never fuffcr by it? Let it -be further.con- 
fidered, what fort of company: you. “mingle 


_ with in-thote midnight affemblies. “Are they 


moft:frequentediby the. wife and pious, of by 


- the ,mére: vain and: vidious| part of mankind 2 
| Do! they tend: torfill:your mind with the moft 
_ improving notions, and your ears sand your 


lips with thé moft.proper converlation ?YDo 


- you that frequent:them neverfind: your, pies - 


_ ty in-dangér there? Does ftrit-religion.and 
Ss 


prayer elif fo. well. with. you fafter’ “thote 
gawdy nights of mith and: folly:? And do 
you then; when you join in thofe:affembhies, 


— 


768 THE BEAUTIES OF DRAVATTS 


_practife the domme: ‘cecal abfta: 

from all appearance: of. ei acelin te ca 
paths of temptation ? Can “you: pray for a 
__ bleffing‘on your attendance: uO ; 
meetings ? Or can“youhope to-run into.the. 


— midf of ‘thofe fparks and ‘living: coals and 


Spi 


yet not be burned, norfo much as have your 
garments figned ? Are not parentsi very gen-_ 
erally fenfibleithat there are dangerous {nares 
“to: youth in thofe:gay diverfions ? and there} - 
fore the mother will’ herfelf go along with*her 
young offspring to take” care: ot them, and 
to watch: over them ; ‘and perhaps there is - 
fcarcely any place or: time which more wants" 
the watchful eye of a fuperior.. But here-let 
me afk, is this all the reafon: why the mother 
attends thofe feenes of: vanity? Has fhe no 
relifh for theny herfelfi?’ Has fhe no gay hus 
mours of her own:to be gratified, which fhe 
‘difguifes and covers with the pretence of a 
parental folicitude for the virtue and honour 
of her offspring ? are> there no mothers who - 
freely lead their children into thofe perilous i 
places, where foul and body are in ‘danger, © 
and are really, their ser ie under a colour — 
of being their guardians ? 

You will plead, perhaps, that fome of thefe 
things are proper for the improvement of 
young people in good breeding and politenefs.. 4 
They muft.be brought into company, to 
fee the world, and to learn how to behave » 
with becoming decency. biti fuppofe th thefe © 


7 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR, WATTS. 169 


“affemblies to be academies of politenefs, and 
that young people attend there upon lec- 
tures of good breeding, Js there no other. 
time fo fit as midnight, to polifh the youth 
_of both fexes, and.to breed them well ? May 
“not an hour or two be appointed at. more 
oper feafons, by felec& companies, for mu- 
tual converfation, and innocent delight ? 
Can there be no genteel recreations enjoyed, 
“no leffons of behaviour taught by day light? 
pean: no method of improvement in good 
breeding be contrived and appointed which, 
hall. be more fecure from temptations and 
Miaconveniencies ? Are there none which ate 
‘more harmlefs, more innocent, of better re- 
“putation among perfons of ftrict piety, and 
which. make leis inroad.on the duties of -life, 
both folitary and facial, civil and religious. 
i. : POSTHUMOUS WORKS, P. I194- 
f 
_ Ibis the duty of parents who ese give 
their children a good education, to fee to it 
ithat children, in their younger years, do not 
indulge {uch recreations as may {poil all the 
good effects of the pious inftructions,- the 
prayers, and cares of their parents. Other- 
wife, if you encourage them in fuch recrea- 
tions, you are building up thofe vanities of 
= ‘and thofe vicious inclinations with one 
and which you labour to prevent or deftroy 
with the other. —POSTHUMOUS WORKS, PB. 196. 
a : 2 = 


Bf 


470 «THE ‘PEAUTIES or ance 


too ready to put off God in fecret or in4 


fhort, as though the only defign of it were : 


the mo neceffary and important p 


ce te 
OF SECRET AND. soci main 


WHILE I am difeou g young | 
tians from that affectation o Jong: p 
which arifes from an oftentation of 
parts, from a fuperftitious hope of pleafin 
God better by faying many parte fron 
a trifling frame of (pitty IT wou vi 
my readers imagine that the fhort 
are always the beft. Our Sinful natures 


Uy 


family, with a few minutes of worfhip, { 
mere floth and wearinefs of holy thi 
which is equally to be blamed: for. 
we omit.a great part of the neceflary x 
of prayer in confeffions, petitions, plead 
for mercy, or thankfgivings. Nor do I 
that prayer in public afiemblies fhould— 


mere preface before the fermon, or a b 
-diction after at. Whereas focial pi 
one confiderable part (if not the chi 
of public worfhip ; and we ought ¢ 
‘to continue fo long in it, as to runt 


of a focial addrefs to the throne of G 
Chriftian prudence will teach us to deter 
the length of our prayers agreeably t 

caSon and prefent circumftances, and ace 
ing to the meafure of our own ability f 
work. GUIDE To ee 


pare 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS, 171 


ja, THE TONE OF THE VOICE IN PRAYER. 


-"FHOUGH the beauty of our expref- 
| fions, and the tuneablenefs’ of our voice, can 
- never render our worfhip more acceptable to 

_ God, the infinite Spirit ; yet our natures being 

> compofed of ftefh and {pirit,may be affifted in 

worthip by the harmony of the voice of him 
that fpeaks. Should the matter, method, and 
expr eiliokss Be never to well chofen in prayer 
yet it is impoffible for the voice. to fpoil 
the pleafure, and injure the devotion of our 

- fellow-worthippz:rs. When {fpeeches. of the 
beit compofure and warmeft language, are 

recited in a cold, harfh, or ungrateful way,. 
the beauty of therm ts almoft loft. 

Some perfons, by nature, have a very {weet 
and tuneful voice, that whatloever they {peak 
appears pleafing. Others muft take much 

more pains, and attend with diligence to 
rules and directions, that their voice may be 
formed to an agreeable pronunciation : for 
we find by fad experience, that all the ad- 
vantages that nature can obtain or apply to 
_ affift our devotions, are all little enough to 
Keep our hearts from wandering, and to 
maintain delight : at leaft it is a neceflary 
duty to know and. avoid thofe difagreeable 


172 THE BEAUTIES oF DR. WATTS. 


ways of pronunciation, that may rather dit. 
gut than ‘edify fuch as may join with Us. 

I confefs, in fecret prayer there is no “ne- 
ceflity of a voice, for God heats a whifper as 
well asa figh anda groan. Yet fome Chrif- 
tians cannot pray with any* ‘advantage to 
themfelves without the ufe of a voice in 
fome degree ; nor can. I judge it at all i ims 
proper, but rather preferable, fo. that you 
have a convenient place for fecrecy : for 
hereby you will not only excite vour own 
feStions the more, but b practice i in fecret, 
if you take due care of your ‘voice there, 


‘you may learn alfo to {peak in sblic the 


better. 
The great and apna role T would lay 


‘down for managing the voice in prayer As 


this: “* Let us ufe the fame, voice | wit 
& which we ufually {peak in gh ve and fe- 
‘ rtous conyeriation, efpecially up on pathe= 


© tical and affeéting fubjeéts. is 1s the 


beft direction that ‘| know, | to1 Recess: the ce 
jound as well as the words. Onur: own. na- 
tive and common yoice appears moft natu- 
ral, and may be managed with the greatelt 
eafe. And fome perions have taken occafion | 
to ridicule our worfhip, and to cenfure us as 
hypocrites, when we fondly feek any new ‘and 
different fort of founds or voices “in “our 


prayers, 
GUIDE gOS: ¥ oe 


f 


-THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS.” 1273 


THAT IT Is SINFUL TO COMPLAIN OF THE DIS- 
PENSATIONS OF PROVIDENCE. _ 


AN African has no right to complain, that 

he was not born-a Briton; nor a porter that he 
_ was not born a prince ; nor Saphronius and 
‘I, that we were not made prophets and apof- 
tles. If God has furnifhed all men with fuch 
natural powers, as being improved in the belt 
manner, would lead them to virtue, religion, 
and happinefs, furely his creatures may give 
him leave to make fo much diftinétion be- 
tween them, as to fet fome of them in a 
plainer and eafier road'to happinels than he 
has others : and it is fhameful ingratitude 
for us, in chriftian countries, to complain of 
our bountiful Creator, who-has afforded us 
fuch peculiar favours, and’ made our way to 
heaven plaineft of ‘all. - 


STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUM. REASON, P 210, 


e sss" 2 a - 
CHARITABLE JUDGMENT OF OUR. FELLOW- 
CREATURES RECOMMENDED. 


“LET us take a furvey of the world, and 
fee what a mixture there is of amiable and 
2 P 2 


174. THE BEAUTIES OF sien ae 


hateful qualities among the children fine 
There is beauty and comelinets 3 ‘there. | 
“vigour and vivacity ; there i as ir 
and compaffion ; there is wit, and judgment; 
and induftry, even among” thole that are pro- 
fligate and abandoned to many vices. There 
is fobriety, and love, and honeity, and |jnttice, . 
and decency amongft men that ‘ know ‘net 
-** God, and believe not the gofpel of our. 
«© Lord Jefus.” There are very few of the: 
fons and daughters of Adam, but are poffel- 
fed of fomething good and: agreeable, either, 
by nature or acquirement ; thersiotes# when . 
there is a neceflary occafion to the 
vices of any man, I fhould not ies evi ' 
him-in the grots, nor heap ‘reproaches on hin > 
by wholefale. It is very difingenuous to talk 


Epat ft vs 


fcandal in fuperlatives, as tho he e 
who was a finner,” was a Bets ila, " 
very worlt of men, all over hatefal an es a 4 
minable. me i 4 
How (harply thea oui ON es ot ae 
prove us, when we give cur pride and m 
a loofe to ravage over all the a 
our neighbours, and deny all that" is os of 
concerning them, becaule they have fome- 
thing in them that is criminal and worthy ¢ 
blame! Fhus our judgment is abufed by « 
paffions.; and fometimes this Joly reigns ii 1 
us to fuch.a degree, that we can hardly allow _ 
a man to be ne or inzenuous, “to have a | 
grain of he fenfe, or good humour, that is 


Wak 2 . uw 


THE BEAUTIES QF DR, WATTS. ap" 


not of our profeffion, or our party, in mat- 
ters of church or ftate. Let us look back 
upon our conduct, and bluh ito think that 
_we fhould indulge fuch prejudices, fuch fin- - 
ful partiality. 


AUB ORS, VOL. I, P. 14%. 


I will not therefore fay within myfelf con- 
cerning any man, “J hate him utterly, and 
* abhor him in all” aelpeets, © eeaufe he has 
« not true holinefs.”. But I will look upon 
him, and confider whether there may not be 
fome accomplifhment in hin, fome:moral 
-vittue, fomevaluab!e talent, {ome natural or 
acquired excellency ; and I will not neglect 
‘to. pay due efteem to every deferving quality, 
wherefoever I find it. It isa piece of ho- 
nour due to God our Creator, to obferve the 
various fignatures of his wifdom that he has 
impreffed upon his creatures, and the over- 
flowing treafures of his goodnefs, which he 
‘has diflributed among the works of his 
hands. 

Thus I may very juftly ‘love a’ man, for — 
‘whom, 1 in the vulgar fenfe, I have no chari ity, 
that is, fuch a one as I believe to be in a 
_ftate of fin and death, and. have no prefent 
hope of his falvation. How could holy pa- 
rents fulfil their duties. of affection to their 
wicked children ? Or pious children pay due 
refpect to-finful parents ? How could a be- 
lever fulfil the law of love to am unbel: eving 


~ 


thers a century ago, and in: ¢ malt p 


Biniy CATION CONTRASTED. ta, 


‘children in our age. 


learning by terrible difcipline Pied Gi > to 


4176. THE BEAUTIES onan. WAtES : tg sh 
brother, or a dearer relative; if we ought to 
admit. of no, love to: perfons t tha: Pa are in a 
ftate at enmity to God?) ahs iia nad 
sash mapmbelbatad st ye 48S 4 

“alee se 


r 
ef 
ie Te 

yi yee ee aU | 
*) Ett ino ac cae Tee 


ANCIENT AND MODERN EDU. i 


ela 4 

SO weak and unhappy is human Mora 
that it is ever ready’to run-into extrem¢s 5 
and'when we would: recover’ ‘ourfelves from — 
an excefs.on the right hand, we know not 
-where to ftop till we are got to an excels on 
the left. Inftances of this kind are innume- 
rable in all the affairs of human life ; bu 
is hardly more remarkable in ; any thing, t . 
in the ftri@t and fevere ' education nena ¢ | 


and unlimited liberty that is indul 
In thofe days the fons were bre toe! 


and Latin author they cobverfer: with,.. NaS 
attended with one, or thany new feourge 
to drive them into acquaintance with bin 
and not the leaft mifdemeanor in life coul 
efcape the lath > as though a father wou 
prove his daily “ love. to his fon ae, 


¢ 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 1'}7 


<¢ {paring his rod,” Prov. xiii. ‘24. Now-a- 

days young matter muft be treated with a 

foolifh fondlets, till he is grown to the fize of 
man; and let his faults be never fo heinous, 

and his obftinacy never fo great, yet the pre- 

ceptor muft not let him hearthe name of 
the rod, left the child fhould be frighted or. 
hurt ; the advice of the wifeft of men is ut- 

terly forgotten, when he tells us, that due 

*< correction fhall drive out the folly that is 

“ bound upin- the heart offa child,” Prov. 

xxil. 15. Orelfe they boldly reverfe his 

divine counfel, Prov. xiit. 24. as though they 

would’make the rule of their praétice a di- 

ret contradiction to the words of Solomon, 

namely, that ‘he that /pareth the rod loveth 

*his fon, but he that haterh him, una 

‘“him betimes.” 

— ‘¥n that day many children were kept i ina 
mott fervile fubjection, and not fuffered to 
fit down, or to {peak i in the prefence of their 
favher, till they were come to the age of one 
and twenty. The leaft degree of freedom 
was efteéimed a bold prefumption, and incur-- 
red a fharp reproof.. “Now they are made 
familiar companions to their parents, almoft 
from the very nurfery ; and therefore they 
will hardly bear a check or rebuke at site| 
hand. 

In the baeictne of the latt century, anid 
fo onward to the middle of it, the children 
were ulually obliged to believe what their 


al eS ‘QSoee 
va 


178 bun nacrion oe e. 


parents and matters taught them; wheth 
they were principles of Fee ‘ 
faith and practice: they were tied down ne 
Imgit every punctilio, as though it were p 

fary to falvation ; they were not fuffered to 
examine or enquire whether their. teachers, 
were in the right, and fearce knew upon what, 
grounds they were to affent. to the things 
that were taught them ; for it was a maxim. 
of all teachers, thar the ‘earner mutt believe : 
Difcentem operte @edere. Then’ an infe dixit, 
or Ariftotle faid fo, was a fufficient Lean ‘of 
any propofition in the colleges sand fora 
man, of five and twenty to. bes a Chriftian and 
a proteftant, a difeater ora church- man, it 
was almoft reafon enough to fay his fack 
was fo. But in this century, when the doc- 
trine of a juft and reafonable liberty 4 hh bet- 
ter known, too many of the. prefé uth 
. break all the bonds of nature and duty, a 
to the wildeft degrees of loofenels, bod in. 
belief and practice. They flight the relig 
which their parents have taught them, that 
they may ,appear to have chofen a religion 
for themfelves ¢ and when they. have made a 
creed or belief of their own, or rather bor- 
rowed fome feraps of infidelity from. their 
vain companions and equals, they find pre- | 
tences enough to caft off all % other te at. 
once, as, wall as the counfels’ and | 
their religious, predeceflors, P Bo me of, om 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 179 


» The praétices of our fathers (fay thzy) 
*¢ were precife and foolifh, and fhall be no 
© rule for ouf conduct ; the articles of their 
‘* faith were abfurd and myfterious, but we 
*< will believe nothing. of myftery, left -our 
«faith fhould be as ridiculous as theirs.” In 
_ their-young years, and before their reafon ts 
half grown, they pretend to examine the {ub- 
blimeft doctrines of Chriftianity ; anda raw 
and half-witted boy fhall commence an in- 
fide), becaufe he cannot comprehend fome 
of the glorious truths of the gofpel, and 
Jaughs at his elders and anceftors, for beliey- 

_ ing what they could not comprehend, 
The child now-a-day forgets that his pa- 
rent is obliged by all the laws of God and 
nature, to “train him up in his own religion, 
~ till’he is come to the proper age of difcre- 
tion to judge for himfelf ; he forgets or he 
will net know, that the parent is introfted 
with the care of the fouls of his young off- 
{pring by the very Jaws of nature, as well as 
by the revealed covenants of innocency and 
‘of grace. The fon now-a-days forgets ‘the 
‘obhgations he js under to honour and obey 
the perfons that gave him birth ; he pays no 
regard to the doctrines which led on his an- 
ceftors to the love of God and man ; whereas 
doétrines that have fuch influence, claim at 
jeaft fome degrees of attention, and {pecially 
from a fon who has been trained up in them, 
and beheld the effect of them in the piety of 


180 THE BEAUTIES.OF DR. WATTS. 


his parents ; nor will, the very light of»na-— 
ture fuffer him to depart from.thes , but up- 
on the cleareft judgment of . his.own mature 
reafon, a thorough and impartial {earch i into 
the’ fubjeét, the loud inward dictates of | his 
confcience, and, the full, saat of his P* 
rents miftake. . 
So wanton and Ticentious ; a fpitit bas pot: 
feffed:fome of the youth of the nation, that 
they never think they have freed themfelves _ 
from the prejudices of their education, till 
they have thrown off almoft all the yokes of 
reftraint that are Jaid upon them by God or ~ 
man. © Some take a petulent pride in laying 
afide the holy {eriptures, for the fame reafon, 
that Timothy was adviled to “ continue in 
“them,” and that is, becaufe “ they have 
* learned and known them, from their very” 
** childhood,” 2 Zam. i. 15. And fome, 
pethaps, have been laughed out of their 
Chriftianity, left it thould be faid, their ‘mo-. 
thers and heir nuries bad made them fbi, 
tians. bs 
Heretofore the fons were fie faffered to %e 
be abfent from home an hour, without ex- 
prefs leave, till they were arrived at the age 
of man,.nor daughters till they were married; 
now both fexes take an unbounded licence 
of roving where they pleafe, and from a do- vd 
zen years old, they forget to afk leave to. 
wander or to vifit where their. ‘fancies lead a 
them ; at firft the aici ses wieale and, a 


a 


. O in oy an 
7 { . 
{ “a 


4. eg 


~ 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTs. 181 


winks at if, ‘and then’ the child ‘Claims’ it as 
his due tor ever. 

In’ fhort) the lat age thught mankind to 
weneve! that they were mere children, and 
treated thems fuch, till they were near thirty 
years old ; but the’prefent gives them leave to 
fancy them{=Ives complete men and women 
at twelve and fifteen ;‘and they accordingly _ 
judge arid *nianage for themifelves ’ ‘entirely, 
and tod “often ‘depile all’ advice of their 
elders.” 

“Now though it be fificiently evident that 
both thefe are extremes of liberty or reftrainc, 
yet if we judge-by the reaton of things, or 
by experience and ‘{uccefs, furely the ancient 
education isto be preferred betore the prefent, 
and of the two fhouid rather be ‘choien. 


= FOS TSO OMS ron Pr. 290. 


P : rs 
re > . er 4 : «> ng *.T% 
7 PH tr ar Bryer rs 


“EXTREMES OF LIBERTY AND des TO. 
“si BE “AVOIDED IN THE EDUCATION 
. OF YOUTH 


BUT fier al j is theretaer bai al Pe 
tween thefe two extremes, excefs of con- 
finement, and excefs of liberty ? May not 
young undeérftandings be allowed to fhoot 
_and {pread themfelves a little, phe grow- 


482 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


ing rank and rampant? May not wel 
be kept in due and gentle bin tothe 
parents, without putting yokes of bondage. 
on them ? Is there no: reafonable seienint 
oF thé wild opinions, and violent inclir 
of youth, without making chains for prions 
derftanding, and throwing fetters on the foul ?- 
May not the young géntleman begin to. act 
like a man, without forgetting that he is a 
fon? and maintain the full liberty of his. 
own judgment without infolence and con; 
' tempt of the opinions of his elders? May 
not he who is bred up a proteftant and a 
Chriftian judge freely for himfelf without the 
pr chess of his education, and yet continue 
hriftian and a Proteftant ftill ? Is it net 
pofiible for the parent to indulge, and the 
child to enjoy a juft liberty, and yet neither 
encnurage nor practife a wild licentioufnefs > 
Yes furely ; and there have been» 
inftances in the laft age, and there are fome 
in this, both of parents and children, oy 
have learned to tread this middle path, 
found wifdom and virtue inion d pea 
Agathus has bred his fon up t fuch dif 
cipline, as renders them both proper exam 
ples to the world: ST ME oes: cds he 5: 52 ; 
Ratt _ Paseo bss 1206, 
i fal My Fate Tih Xs 4 


THE BEAUTIES OP DR.WATTS. 183 


‘oo THE END OF TIME 
REV. x. s, 6. “ And the angel which f 
*< {aw ftand upon the fea, and upon the earth, 


«lifted up his iiand to heaven, and {ware 
** by him that liveth for ever and ever, that 


there fhall be time no longer.” This is“ 


the oath and folemn fentence of a mighty 
angel who came down from heaven, and by 
the defcription of him in the firft verfe, he 
feems to be the ‘‘ Angel of God’s prefence, 
“ in whom is the mame of God,” even our 
Lord Jefus Chrift himfelf, who ‘pronounced 
and iware that * Time fhould be no long- 
«er ;” for all feafons and times are now put 
into his hand, together with the book of his 
Father's decrees, Rev. v. 7, 9. What fpe- 
cial age or period of time in this world the 
prophecy refers to, may not be fo eafy to deter- 
mine ; but this is certain, that it may be hap- 
pily applied to the period of every man’s 
life ; for whenfoever the term of our conti- 
nuance in this world is finifhed, ‘* our time” 
in the prefent circumftances and {cenes that at- 
tend it “ fhall be no more :” we fhall be fwept 
off the ftage of this vifible ftate into an unfeen 
and eternal world : eternity comes upon us at 
once, and all that -we enjoy, all that we do, 
and all that we fuffer in “* time, fhall be no 
“ more,” . 
WORL® TG COME, P. 108. 


* 


+ 


184 THE, BEAUTIES on pa, warts, 


The moment ‘is haftening y : 

this mighty angel who manages the asia , 
the kingdom of . providence, fall qi! 
concerning every unbelievin and impenitent 
finner, hee the * time ff offered pee aa 
“be no longer, the time of pao id and 
“ race and reconciliation fhall be ge el a 
the found of this mercy reach t the re- 
gions of the dead ; thofe who die bet re they 
are reconciled, they die-under the’ load ' 
their fins, and mult -pétifh for ever; withot 
the leaft hope or glimple of reconciling 


» forgiving grace. WORLD TO ete r. 1. 
u pas Tye 


"EVERY boar lige said ‘hi or given 
you to prepare for dying, and ve'a fou 

if you,were but apprized of the w 
own fouls, you would better know e WO! 
of days and hours, and of every paffing mo-— 
ment, for they are given to fe ure yo 
immortal intereft, and fave a foul ft 
everlafting mifery. And you we 
lous and importunate inthe’ 
the man of God, upon a medita * 
the fhortnefs ‘ar life, Pfal. x xe. — “ So 
“teach tis toundmber. Ou days as te : 
‘ our hearts to wildom,” ve e. So tez 


PRE BEAUTIES OF DR, WATTS. 9185 g 


nfider how few and uncertain our days are, 
hat' we may be truly wife in preparing for 
e end of them. 
» At is.a matter of vaft importance to be 
ever ready for the end of time, ready to 
hear this awful fentence confirmed with the 
3 a 8 of the glorious angel, that time fhalt 
| ‘noylonger.” Ehe terrors or the com- 
ore of a.dying bed depend upon it + the 
.folemn.and deciftve voice of judgment de- 
apa ‘upon it: the joys and the forrows of a 
jong eternity depend upon it : go now, care- 
re finer, and in the wiew of fach h things as. 
hele, go and. trifle away. time as you haye 
"done betore ; time, that invaluable treafure : : 
go and venture the lof of your fouls, and 
the hopes of heayen and your eternal, hap- 
: pioels,.1 in, wafting away the remnanto hours 
fl moments of life : but remember the aw- 
ful_yaice.of the. angel is haftening towards 
you, and the found is is jul breaking upon you, 
that « time foal be no longer.’ 


~ 


) ST ee ae 4) WORED wo COME, ?, a5. 


fei)’ 
( Fas 2 : : 
t 


2 ye :PmE CHURCH - YARD. 


WHAT | aoumber of hillocks of Geath, 
Serve all round ust!’ Wh are the tomb~ 
; Q 3 a y 


\ 


Sa vegies £2 at 
, - 


wee ee FY 
’ 


ie 
| 
: 
b 


186 THE BEAUTIES OF} QR warts. 


EY 


ftones, but “memorials ‘of the nhabita hts uF 

that town, to inform us of the period of ‘all 
their lives, and ta point out the day when it 
was {aid to each of them, “ Your time ‘thal 

* be no longer.” ©, may T ‘readily learn 
this important leffon, that my turn is haften- 
ing to ; fuch a little hillock fhall thortly _ 

rife for me in fome unknown fpot of ground, 

it fhall cover'this flefh and thefe bones of 
mine in darknefs, and fhall hide them from” 
the light of the fun, and from the fight of | 
man till the heavens be no more. 

Perhaps fome kind furviving friend may. 
engrave my name, with the number of my 
days, upon a plain funeral ftone, without or- 
nament, and below envy: there fhall my 
tomb ftand among the reft as a frefh monu-— 
ment of the frailty of nature and the end of 
time. It is poffible fome friendly teot | aoe: } 
now and then vifit the place of “my repofe. 
and fome tender eye may bedew the cold 
memorial with a tear : one or another of 
my old acquaintance may poffibly attend 
there to learn the filent lecture of mortality 
. from my gsave-ftone, which my lips are now 
preaching aloud to the world: and if re 


and forrows fhould reach fo far, perhaps 
while his foul is melting in his eye-ld: and 
his voice fcarce finds an “atterance, he will 
point with his finger, and thew his com A 
nion the month and the day of my difeafe. O, 
that folemn, that awful day, which se fin 


| a 


1 


- treme limits of i innocence. 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 187 


_ my appointed time on earth, and put a final 
' period to all the defigns of my heart, and all 
the labours of my tongue and pen ! 

Think, O my foul, that while friends or 
ftrangers are engaged on that fpot, and read- 
ing the date of my departure hence, thou 
wilt be fixed under a decifive and unchan- 
geable fentence, rejoicing in the rewards of 
time well-improved, or fuffering the longer 
forrows which fhall attend the abufe of it, in 
an unknown world of happinefs or mifery. 


WORLD TO COME, P. 129; 


Po en a a ern ae oamtcnee a et ac > Be ee 


GUILT lta. INNOCENCE, 


DANGER of guilt Rtands near the ex- 


WORLD TO SOME, F. 177, 
THE DANGER OF LATE REPENTANCE. 


IT is a wife and i{t obfervation among 
Chriftians, though it is a very common One, 
that the fcriptures give us ove inftance of a 
penitent faved in his dying-hour, and that is 
the thief upon the crofs, that fo none might 


188 THE BEAUTIES 


uiterly, defpair ; ; but th ey 
ftance’ given, that none 
‘The a. ‘ot repentance is 
too important a thi , to 
guors of a dying bed, « 
-flutterings of thou ug . 
late, conviction. 
-effectual proofs ¢ given at 
repentings : and I am verily’ per! 
are few of them Ruceet ; for w fren 
found. thefe violent eerie ns onlcie nee 
vanifh again, if the finner ha hap Dene tor 
recover his health: they feem to be met 
the wild perplexities and frugales of n 
averfe'to mifery,rather than a 
renouncing their former Jufts on 
ders of hell and deftruction, is. 
the vehement efforts of a drow: 
conflrained to let moft, 
and taking eager Pode r 
ty, rather than the ‘ce 
and voluntary defigns of a. 
fakes his ear bf joys, ventures | 
pand-fet 
venly country. I never will 
efforts.and endeavours. -defpei 
the grace of God, which» is 
but i can give very little enco 
hope to.an hour or two, o 
and tumultuous penitence, o 
of damnation. eu Judas 1 ep) 
agonies. of foul huiried iain I 


Ve 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 189 


death, “‘ that he might go to his own place :” 
and there is abundance of -fuch kind; of té- 
pénting, in every corner,of hell; that is a_ 
deep-and dreadful pit, .whence! there is ‘no 
tedemption, though there are millions of 
fuch fort of penitents ; it 1s.a ftrone@ and 
dark jprifon, where no beam of comfort ever 
fhines, where bitter. anguifh aad.-mourning 
for fins, paft, is. no, evangelical “repentance; 
‘ but everlafting and hopelets forrew. 5 


!WORL@ “TO COME, P. 198. » 


-/"“WANITY ENSCRIBED ON ‘ALL THINGS. 


: o a4 y a¢ ¥ 
14” 7 7 - sa eat ~ < : 
> aa 


TIMI, like a long flowing ftream, makes 
hafte into eternity, and is forever loft and 
fwallowed up there; and while it is haften- 
ing to- its period, it fweeps away all things 
with it which are not immortal. There ts 
a limit appointed by Providence, to the du- 
ration of all the pleafant and defirabledcenes - 
_of life, to all the works of the hands of men, 
with all.the glories and excellencics’ of ani= 
mal nature, and all that is made of fichh and 
blood. Let us not doat upon any thing here 
below, for heaven hath infcribed-yanity up- 
on it.) The moment is hafteningwhen the 


decree of heaven fhall be uttered, aad Pro- 


* 


190 THE BEAUTIES OF eed 
videnice fhall pronounce upon “every og 
the earth, “ Ic’s time fhall be tio Jonger.” 
_ © What is that ftately building, that rit wy 
palace, which now entertains and amufes 
fight with ranks of- marble “cohimas,” ae 
wide fpreading arches, that gay edifice which - 
enriches our imagination with a thoufand roy- 
al ornaments, and:a profufion of coftly a 
glittering furniture? Time and allits circling _ 
hours, with a fwift wing are brufhing it away, — 
decay fteals upon it infenfibly, and a few 
years hence it fhall lie in mouldering ruin 
and defolation. Unhappy poffetior, if he has _ 
no better inheritance ! ~ 

What are thofe fine and elegant gardens, 
thofe delightful walks, thofe gentle afcents, 
and foft declining flopes, which raife and fink» 
the eye by turns to a thouland vegetable 
pleafures ? How lovely” are t ; OF Emin 
ders, and thofe growing ¥ 
and fruit, which 4 recal loft pa af: ad 
Thofé living parterres which Te e fen 
with vital fragrancy, and make. glad the fighi 
by their refrefhing verdure and. inte rmingled 
flowery beauties ? The feythe of time. is’ 
paffing ,over them all: they, with r, they 


die away, they drop and » h into duft ; 
their duration is {hort ; a few. months deface 
all their yearly glories, and wi thin a few years, — 
perhaps all thefe rifing terras-walks, the ec 4 


gentle verging declivities, fhall lofe all ord 
and elegance, and become oi heap ot. | 


on 


f 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 191 


ruins; thofe well-diftinguifhed borders and 
parterres fhall be levelled in confufion, and 
thrown into common earth again, for the 
ox and afs to graze upon them. _ Unhappy 
man, who poffefles this agreeable {pot of 
ground, if he has no paradife more, durable 
than this ! 

And no wonder that thefe labours of the 
hands of men fhould perifh, when even the 
works of God are perifhable. o 

What are thefe vifible heavens, thefe low- 
er fkies, and this globe of earth ! they are 
indeed the glorious workmanfhip of the Al- 
mighty. But they are waxing old, and wait- 
ing their period too, when the angel fhall 
pronounce upor them that “time fhall be 
“no more.” The heavens ‘ fhall be fold- 
“ed up as a vefture, the elements of the 
*¢ lower world fhall melt with fervent heat, 
<¢ and the earth and all the works thereof; 
« fhall be burnt with fire.’ May the un- 
ruinable world be but my portion, and 
the heayen of heavens my _ inheritance, 
which is built for an eternal manfion for the 

fons-of God: thefe buildings thall out-live 
time and nature, and exift through unknown 
ages of felicity ! ye 

What have we mortals to be proud of in 

-our prefent ftate, when every human glory is 

fo fugitive a fading ? Let the brighteft 
and the beft of us fay to ourfelves, that we 
are but duft and vanity. 


a eS as Mig we 


192 .THE BEAUTIES seen 


Is my body formed | ‘upon a 
del? Are my limbs well turned, < 
complexion better coloured than my mn 
bouts’? Beauty evenin perfection is of fhort- . 
eft date ; a few yearsiwill stan me that its” 
bloom vanifhes, its flower withers, ‘its Juftre 
grows dim, its duration fhall be ‘io longer 5” 
and if life be prolonged, yet the pride-and — 
glory of it is for ever loft in age 
wrinkles: or perhaps our vanity “meets 4 
fpecdier fate. Death and the grave with a 
fovereign and irreftible command, farmmen 
the brighteft as well'as the coarfeft pieces of 
human nature, to lie down eafly’in theit cold 
embraces ; and at laft they muftall mix: to- 
gether among wornis and corruption... 
the deformed, and Helena ‘the fair, are loft 
and undiftinguifhed in. commion earth.’ ‘Na-_ 
ture in its gayeft bloomer but a pai ted 
vanity. PREF a wf aire 
Are my nerves well (fran and vigorous ? 
Is my. activity and ftrength far fuperior tc 
my neighbours in the day of Birt But » 
youth hath its appointed limit): doef fleals — 
upon it, unftrings the Erves, pee ees 
force of them Janeuith into infirmity and fee 
blenefs. Sampfon and Goliah would have | 
boafted advantages of | Maar nd 8 
brawny limbs, in the'courfe of he 
though the one had efcaped thel@ing § 
vid, and the other the vengeance of | 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 195° 


hands in the ruin of Dagon’s temple. Man 
in his beft eftate i is a flying fhadow and van- 


nt Even thofe nobler powers of human life, 
which feem to have fommething angelical in 
“them, I inean the powers of wit and fancy, 
gay imagination and capacious memory, they 
are all fubject to the fame laws of decay and 
‘death. What though they can raile and an- 
imate beautiful {ents in 4 moment, and in 
imitation of creating power, can {pread bright 
"appearances and new worlds before the fenfes’ 
and the fouls of their friends? What thongh 
they can entertain the better part of man- 
kind, the refined and polite world with high 
“delight and rapture? Thefe fcenes of rap- 
 turous delight, grow flat and old by a fre- 
quent review, afd the very powers that railed 
them grow feeble apace, What though they 
_¢an give immortal applaufe and fame to their 
* poffeffors ! It is but the immortality of an 
.empty name, a mere fucceffion of the breath 
of men ; and it is a fhort fort of immortali- 
ty too, which muft die and perifh when th’s 
world perifhes. “A poor fhadow of duration 
mdeed, while the real period of thefe powers 
is haftening every day ; they languifh and 
_die as faft as animal nature, which has a large 
| fhare ia them, makes hafte to its decay; and. - 
the time of their exercife fhall fhortly be no 
more. » 
cfr! 


194 THE BEAUTIES OF PR. WATTS. a 


In vain the aged poet or the painter, w 
call up the mufe and penius of their . 
and fummon all the arts of their i im sin 
to {pread and drefs out fome vific 
In vain the elegant orator would 1 | 
bold and mafterly figures, and all tho: ae 
ery images which gave ardour, grace and dig- 
nity to his younger compofures, and charmed | 
every car: they are gone, they are fled be- 
yond the reach of their owner’s call : their 
time is paft, they are vanifhed and loft bed 
yond all hope of recovery. ‘ 

The God of nature has pronounced an un> ‘ 
paffable period, upon all the powers and pleaf- 
_ ures and glories of this mortal ftate. Let us 
then be afraid to make any of them our boaft _ | 
or our happinefs ; but-point our affections 
to thofe diviner objeéts whofe nature is ever- | 
lafting ; let us feek thofe religious attain- 
ments, and thofe new-created powers of ae 
fanctified mind, concerning which it fhall 
never be pronounced that their “ time 2 ge 
** be no longer.” j 
~ O may every one of us be humbly ¢ n- a 
tent, at the call of heaven, to part wit Pa 
that is pleafing or magnificent here on earth ; 
let us refign even thefe agreeable talents when 
the God of nature demands ; and when the 
hour artiyes, that fhall clofe our eyes to all _ 
wifible things, and lay our flefhly ftructure i m : 
the duft ; let us yield up out whole felyes 
the hands of our creator, who fhall r re 


c 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 195 


_ our fpirits with himfelf; and while we cheer- 
fully give up all that was mortal to the grave, 
we may lie down full of the joyful hope of a 
_rifing immortality. New and unknown pow- 
ers and glories, brighter flames of imagina- 
tion, richer fcenes of wit and fancy, and di- 
viner talents are preparing for us when we 
fhall awake from the duft ; and the mind it- 
felf fhall have all its faculties in a fublime 
ftate of improvement. Thefe fhall make us 
equal, if not fuperior, to angels, for we are 
nearer a kin to the Son of God than they 
are, and therefore we fhiall be made more 
like him. — ; 


POSTHUMOUS WORKS, FP. 1274. 


. OF PRAYER. 

PRAYER isa fecret and appointed means 
to obtain all the bleffings that we want, wheth- 
er they relate to this life, or the life to come ; 
and fhall we not know how to ufe the means 
God hath appointed for our happinefs ? Shall 
fo glorious a privilege lic unimproved through ~ 
our own neglect ? 

Were the bufinefs of prayer nothing eife 
but to come and beg mercy of God, it would 
be the duty of every man to know how to~ 
draw up fuch petitions : but prayer isa work 


196 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS, 


of much larger extent. When 
comes before Ged, he hath! im ich 1 to | 
jay than merely to beg. He ed bs, Goa | 
what a fenle he hath of the divine attr 
and what high efteem he pays to his fajefty, 
his wifdom, his power, and. his. mercy. He 
talks with him about the works of creation, 
and ftands wrapt.up in wonder. He talks 
about the grace and myftery of redemption, 
and.is yet more filled with admiration and © 
joy. He talks of all the affairs of nature, — 
gtace, and glory ; he {peaks of his. works of 
providence, of loud and vengeance, in this - 
~and the future world. Infinite and glorious © 
‘are the iubjects of this holy communion be- — 
tween God and his faints : and fhall we con- 
tent ourfelves with fighs and groans, and a 
few fhort wifhes, and deprive ‘our fouls of fo © 
tich, fo divine, fo glorious a pleafure, for 
want of knowing how tov brass out fuch — 


—_— P =——~ 


guage. 3k RS 
How excellent a valuables tk this fi of 
prayer, in comparifon ofthe many meaner 
arts and accomplifhments,of human pee ea : 
that we labour night and day to obtain ? 
What toil do men daily undergo for feven 
years together, to acquire the knowlec 
a trade and bufinefs in this prefent life. 
the greateft part of the butinefs between sus! 
and heavenis tranfacted in the way of prayer: 
with how’ much: more cigs fhould we. 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 197 


feck the knowledge of this heavenly com- 
merce, than any thing that concerns us mere- 
ly on earth ? How many years of our fhort 
life are {pent to learn the Greek, the Latin; 
and the French tongues, thatave may hold 
correfpondence abroad among the ste | na- 
tions, and converfe with the writings of the 

dead ?. And fhall not the language wherein 

we converfe with heaven and the living God, ~ 
be thought worth-equal pains ?. How nicely 
do fome perfonstudy the art of converfations 

that they: may. be accepted in all companies; 

and {hare in: the favour of men? ‘Is not the 

fame canerduc, to feek all methods of accept+ 
ance with God, that we may approve our- 

felves in his prefence ? What a high value 
is fet;vpo human: oratory, or the art.of per= 

fuafion; whereby. we are. fitted to difeourfe' 

and prevail with: our fellow'creatures ? » And 

is this art of divine oratory of ho efteein with: 

us, Which teaches us to utter our inward: 

breathings of the foul, and plead and prevail 
with eur Creator, through the, affiftance of 

the Holy eae? gand ay mediation of our: 
Lord: Jcfus ? 

O, let the: ‘eeadloutiys aro igh value of: 
this gitt of prayer engage ourearnefine!s andi 
endeavours in proportion to. its fuperior dig- 
nity: ler us * govet the beft of gifts” with) 
the warmeft defire, and pray for them) with 
ard:nt fupplication,:s Cari xu. 183. 

§ loach 2 ites RS ee ae 


198 THE BEAUTIES OF DRY WATTS. 


Another argument may be borrowed from 
our very character and profeffiomas chriftians 5 
fome meafure of the gift of prayer is of great 
“neceffity and univerfal lest! ahebat ne call- 
ed by the name. i 

Shall we profefs to be talkie af: Chrift, ' 
and not know hew to {peak to the Father ? 
Are we commanded. to pray always, and up- 
on all occafions, to be conftant and fervent in 
it, and fhall we be contented with ignorance 
and incapacity to obey this command? Are 
we invited by the warmeft exhortations, and 

- encouraged by the higheft hopes to draw near 
to God with all our wants and forrows, and 
fhall we not learn to exprefs thofe wants, and 
pour out thofe forrows before the Lord? Is. 
there a way made for our accefs tothe throne 
by the blood and interceffion of Jefus Chrift, . 
and fhall we not know how to form a:prayer 
to be fent to heaven, and fpread before the . 
throne by his glerious interceffion ? ITs his — 
-holy Spirit promifed to teach us to pray 
fhall a chriftian be» carelefs or unwilling to 
receive fuch divine teachings ? bo x. 

There is not any faculty in “the fe he 
chriftian life that is called out into fo frequent 
exercife as this; and it isa moft unhap 
thing to be always at a lols to perform t pea 
work which daily neceffity requires, and daily 
duty demands. © Will a perfon profef§ to be 
a {cholar, that cannot read ? Shall any man 
pretend to bea minifter, that cannot preach ? 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 199 


And it is but a poor pretence we make to 

chriftianity, if we are not-able, at leaft in fe- ~~ 
cret, to {upply ourfelves with a few medita- 
tions or expreffions, to continue a little in 
this work of prayer. 


. is 
GUIDE TO PRAYER, P. 199. 


DEGENERACY OF HUMAN NATURE: . 


LET us further fuppofe, what is fuffici- 
ently evident to. our daily obfervation and 
experience, that all mankind are now a de- 
’ generate, feeble, and unhappy race-of beings, 
that we are become finners in the fight of - 
God, and expofed to his anger : it is mani- 
feft enough, that this whole world is a fallen, 
finful and rebellious province of God’s do- 
minion, and under the a¢tual difpleafure of 
its righteous Creator and Governor. The 
over-{preading deluge of folly and error, ini- 
quity and milery, that covers the face of the 
earth, gives abundant ground for fuch a fup- 
pofition. The experience of every man on 
earth affords a {trong and melancholy proof, 
that our reafoning powers are eafily led away 
‘into iniflake and taifhood, wretchedly bribed 
and biafied by-prejudices, and daily overpow- 
ered by*fome corrupt appetites or paffions, 
and our wills led aftray to choole evil inftead 


eee 
ry es.) 
200. THE BEAUTIES OP, DR WARTS 


of, good. The beft of - us 


" the laws of our Maker, by coating y the 
rules of piety and virtue which our own ' 


fon and coni{eiences iiget:th ee unis Eheee is 
: 
- 


“* none righteous” -perfectly 5 .“* no not one.” 
Nor is there. one perfon upon earth free from | 
troubles and difficulties, and, pains and for- 
rows, fuch as teflify fome refentment of our 4 
Maker. + 
Even from our infancy,.our, ani nate 
_ and forrows begin, and itis very. remarkably 7 
evident in fome families, that thefe pains and, | 
difeafes are propagated to the offspring, as. 
they were contracted by the vices of the par 
ents : and particular vicious prthbaceions aa | 
well as particular diftempers, are conve 
from: parents to children fometimes. thr 
feveral generations.. The beft of us arc 
free from irregular propenfities and pafi 
even in the younger parts of life, and 
_ years advance, our fins break.ou 
tinue more or le{s through all our. 
whole race then is plainly degeaer 
and guilty before God, and, are | 


tokens of his: anger, iii 
STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUM. REASON, 


, 


ne Oe oe 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 201 


in this world, there fhall be the fame variety 
of the degrees of punifhment in the world'to 
come. Every man fhall be judged according 
to the advantages he enjoyed. More is re- 
quired from thofe whofe advantages were 
greater, and their” guilt is more heinous in - 
abufiag of ‘népiecting tein. “God, thea 
knowing and the righteous, will weigh every 
eircumftance, both of his favours and of our 
ufe or abufe of them, in the niceft balance, 
and his fentence fhall bear an exact propor- 
tion to the demerits of every finner. ‘* He 
“that knew not his mafter’s -will, thall be 
“* beaten but with few ftripes,”’ in compari- 
fon with thofe criminals who knew it, and 
fought againft it.. Suppofe therefore that 
the punithment of thefe rudeft: and moft ftu= 
pid nations upon the earth, in the future 
world, thall be exceedingly {imall, in propor- 
tion to the very {mall degrees of light. and 
knowledge which they have enjoyed, or which 
have lain fairly and practically within their 
reach 5 will not this greatly relieve the difi- . 
culty Fr ‘ 
And if even thefe lighteft punithments 
which fhall be affigned to the moft ignorant 
part of the Heathen world, fhould be thought 
fomething fevere, yet none can be thought 
utterly unjuft, if, as was before obferved, none 
are punifhed, but for acting in fome meafure 
again{t the light of their own minds. 
STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUMAN REASON, P. 278. © 


ee % 


202 ‘THE BEAUTIES oF oth con 
‘ 4 ean ) ee! mt i aie Se 


THE RAKE REFORMED IN aca epi 
ING. ne 
FLORINO was young ‘and idle; “ye roe 
him(elf up to all the diverfions of th comrade 
and roved wild among the pleafures of fenfe 5 
nor did he confine himfelf within the limits _ 
of virtue, or withhold his heart from any for-. 
bidden joy. Often hath he been heard to. 
ridicule mafriage, and affirm th; t no man - 
can mourn heartily for a dead wife, for then — 
he hath leave by the law to choofe a new com- 
panion, to riot in all the gayer fcenes of a 
new courtfhip, and perhaps: to advance ‘his 
fortune too. ree 
When he heard of the death 
“¢ Well, faid he, I will go vifit my 
mk 2 clus, and rally him a little on 
“ fion.” He went the next day in 
wantonnefs. of his heart to fulfil his 
inhuman and barbarous as it was, and t 
“with folemn forrow. But when I 
peared, the man of gaiety was ftrang 
prifed, he faw fuch a fincere and inimitable ~ 
diftrefs fitting on his countenance, and ifs i 
covering itfelf in every air and aCtion, that 
he dropt his cruel purpofe, his foul began to 
melt, and he affumed the comforter. 
Florino’ s methods of confolation. were all 
drawn from two topics : oe sae ar 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTY 203 


neceffity, advifing an heroic indolence about 
unavoidable events, which are paft and can- 
not be reverfed ; and fome were derived from 
the various amufements of life which call the 
foul abroad, and divide and {fcatter the 
thoughts, and fuffer not the mind to attend 
to its inward anguifh. <‘ Come, Lucius, 
* faid he, come, {mooth your brows a little 
« and brighten up for an hour or two : come 
« along with me to a concert this evening 
«< where you fhall hear fome of the beft pie- 
“ ces of mufic, that were ever compofed, and 
** performed by fome of the beft hands that 
* ever touched an inftrument.. To-morrow 
« J will wait on you to the play, or, if you 
« pleafe to the new opera, where the icet 
are fo furprifing and fo gay, they would al- ~ 
« moft tempt an old hermit from his belov- 
<< ed cell, and call back his years to three 
« and twenty. Come, my friend, what have 
«< the living to do with the dead ?. Do but 
“forget your grievances a little, and they 
€ will die too : come, fhake off the fpleen, 
*¢ divert your heart with the entertainments 
“¢ of wit and melody, and call away your fan- 
“ cy from thefe gloomy and ufelefs contem- 
«¢ plations.” Thus he ran on in his own way 
of talking, and opened to his mourning friend 
the beft {prings of comfort that he was ac- 
guainted with. 

Lucius endured this prattle as long as he 
was able to endure it, but it had no manner 


~ 


\ 


af: inflaence to Aaonelh: tl 
or to abaté his fmartin: 
waxed more intenfe byt ‘a 
tions, and the grief fapne £ 
éontain itfelf, a 
’ ‘leo | then ned ea re 


ferved not any of the’ rules Pie eg or juft | 
decency, but placed himfelf near: encugh to 
“tiften ‘how the: paffion ‘took its: vent: + u 
“there he heard the diftreffed Lucius t lov 
- ing over Serena’ s death in faeh: langua 
this. 
» What did Hingak talk abaiat 
and fate? Alas, this is Reg i ae 
painfel an event eannot” be revert 
divine will ‘has made it fate, an I 


“Plays anJ malic and oper oe 
trifles are thefe to give eafe to a. 
heart ! ! ) toa gee that has loft 


waits under eh a keen partir 
the long, long abfence of my $ 
gone.—The cefire of my eyes an 
of my foul is gone-—The firlt 
comforts and the beft of mortal 
She is gone, and fhe has taken 
that was pleafant, ail that could 
gloomy hours of life, that could’ foften 
cares 5 ie relieve’ the burdens of i Oe 


‘THE BEAUTIES OF DRuWATTS. 205 


gone, and the beft portion‘and joy of my life. 
as departed.. Will he never return, never 
ome back and blefs my-eyes again ? No; 
never, never.—She will no more come back 
to vifit this wretched ‘world, and to dry thefe 
weeping eyes. That beft portionof my life, 
that deareft blefi ing” is gone, ard will return 
mo more. Sorrows in, long fucceffion await 
athe while hive all my future daysare mark- 
sed out for grief. and-darkne(s. . ~ 
-Let the man, who feels no inward pain at 
the lofs of fuch a partner, drefs his dwelling — 
an black fhades.and difmal formalities:: let 
him draw the curtains of darknefs around | 
dam and teach his chambers a fafhionable ~ 
Shieening but real anguifh of heart -needs 
mone of thefe modifh and diffembled forrows. 
My foul is hung round with dark images im 
all her apartments, and every fcene.is fincere 
Jamentation anc death. : 
I thought once I had. fore pretences te 
the courage of a man: -but this isa feafon 
-ofuntried diftre: I.now fhudder at athought, | 
 ftart at fhadows, my fpirits are funk, and 
horror has taken hold of me. I feel paffions 
in me that were unknown. before.; love has 
its own proper grief and its peculiar anguith. 
Mourning love has:thofe agenies and thofe 
finkings of {pirit which are known only to 
bereaved and virtuous’ lovers. 


206 THE BEAUTIES i ke 
T ftalk about like a ghoft in mufing fi | 
till the gathering forrow too t 
sheart and burfts out peas i. 
wailings. Strange and’ ng ftr 
indeed! It has melted all’ the: man ‘wi 
me down to foftnefs: tech atime ack 
to childhood again : I would maintain the 
dignity of my age andy fex, but thefe eyes. 
rebel and betray me ; the eyelids arev full, 
they overflow ; the drops of love and: ~~ 


Arickle down my cheeks, and plow the 
"sows of age there before theiritime... 
How often in a day are thefe fluices open- 
ed afreth ? The fight of every friend that. 
-knew her calls up my we. ssand betrays 
amy frailty, Jam Hea of myfelf. 
What thall Ido? Js there nothing of man- 
‘hood left about my heart ?» I will refift the 
paffion, I will pi with nature, I will 
grow indolent and forbid) my tears. Alas, 
poor feeble sitetche that Iam 4. 
ftruggle ; in vain Trefit: the. 
Aolence vanifhes ; the real paffion 
in, it {wells and bears down all b 
torrent rifes and prevails hour: ie” 
-will have its way. Ewen the Son of God | 
when he became man, was found : weepin at 
the tomb ofa darliag” friend. . ieeaaioe 
and Jefus wept. 
O my foul, what thall I do to relieve this. 
sheart-ach ? How hall I cure this. pai 7 
fenfibility ? Is there no opiate will teach it. . 


s 


| THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 20} 


- Whither thall I goto leave my forrows be~ 
hind me? [ wander from one room to ano- 
- ther, and wherever I go I Gill feem. to feck 
her, but) E. mifssher ftil. .. My imagination 
rs rs me with her lovely image, and tempts: 
o doubt, is fhe dead indeed ? My fond 
ination: would fain forget her death-bed,. 
and impofe upon my hope that I thall find 
her fomewhere.. 1 vifit her apartment, F 
fteal:into her clofet-:.in days paft. when ¥ 
have miffed her in the parlour, how ofterr 
have I found the dear creature in that beloy- 
ed: corner of the houfe, that fweet place of 
divine retitement.and converfe with heaven ¥ 
But even'taat cloiet is empty now. I go 
thither, and) retire ia aappositeniay? anc 
 confofion. © » «x 
Methinks I fhould meet her in foci of 
her walks, ' in) fome of her family cares, OF 
her innocent amufenignts.: I fhould fee her 
face, methinks, I ha hear her .voice and 
exchange a tender word-or two.—Ah foolifl 
rovings of a diftreffed and: difquieted fancy ! 
Every room:is empty and filent . clofet, par- 
lours,. chambers, all empty, all filent ; and 
that’ very filence and emptinefs proclaim my 
forrows =, even emptinels and. deep filence’ 
_ join to! confefs the painful Jofs, : 
Shall. I try. then to put her quite out of 
my thoughts, fiace fhe will come to no more 
within the reach of my fenfes? Shall I Joofer: 
_ the fair picture and drop it from my _heart,. 


‘§ 


_ Yet ftay. a little thereytem 


in that tender part of ma: O rt inhappy we 
Thy prefence painful’? A, difmal chang: 

deed ! When thou wert wont to arife a 
thew thyfelf there, graces andj ' 
to arife and’ thew themfelves :. 


ver appear without sine hat dark-and 
“te er day that {pread the vail oF death over 
her : but her image dreft im that: loon 
vail bath loft all che attendant joys and grace 
Let her picture vanith from rat al th 
fince it has loft shefe endearing atter 
fet it vanilh away into forgetiy 


hath robbed it of fee very joy. 


me-_once more furvey thee r>ftay a li tle: mo- 
ment,.and let-me take one lafb glance, 
foleaan farewell. Is there not 
the refemblance of her too 
it quite banifhed from my" heart 
my. foul at-work to try. to forget’! 
deal fo unkindly with one who-wo A 
have forgotten:me ? Canomy fo pet vit 
out her imageon it ? media ftamp 
emer t ever to be effaced? > 

_ Methinks I feel all my: heart 


ree 


ae 


ae 
THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 1a 


around her, and grow fo faft to that dear 
picture in my fancy, they feem to be rooted 
there. To be divided from it is to die. Why. 
fhould I then purfue io vain and fruitle(s an 
“attempt ? What ?:forget-myfelf ? forget my 
_ dife? No ; it cannot be ;. nor can-I bear to— 
think of fuch aude and cruel treatment of 
an image fo much deferving and fo much be-- 
loved. Neither paffion nor realon permits: 
me to forget her, nor is it’within, my power. - 
She is prefent almoft toy all my- thoughts :- 
fhe-is with me. in all my: motions ;. grief has 
arrows with her name upon them,.that flick. 
-as faft and as deep-as thofe of love 5 they ~ 
cleave to my vitals wherefover I'go, but with- 
a quicker fenfation and a keener pain: Alas- 
it is love and grief together-thathave fhot all! 
their arrows into my heart, and filled every’ 
vein with acute anguifh and long diftrefs. — 

- Whether then fhalli fly to find folace and? 
eafe ? I cannot depart from miyfelf : I'can-- 
not abandon thefe tender and imarting fenfa-- 
tions, Shall 1 quit. the loufe and all the: 
apartments of it-which renew her dear me- 
- gnory ? Shall I rovein thefe-open fields which 
lie near: my: dwelling, and fpread wide their 
pleafing verdure ? Shall I give my foul a 
Joofe to all nature that-fmiles around me, or” 
fhall I: confine: my daily walk to this fhady 
and delight*ul garden ?. Oh, no :: neither of 
thef- w:ll relieve my-anguifh. Serena has: 

wo often ee with her-company both» - 

aes 


* rf 7 
970 THE BEAUTIES «Ale: 


in this garden-and in thefe fields. » Her-very 
name feems written on every tree: I »thall. 
think of her and fancy fee herin every ftep » 
- Kitake.. Here the preft the graf with’ her 
feet, here the gathered’ violets and rofes and’ 
refrefhing herbs.and:gave the.lovely colle&tion 
of {weetnefs into my hand: But alas, the 
fweeteft: violet: and the faireft rofe-is fallen, 
4s withered, and is.no.more. Farewell then,, 
ye fields and gardens, with. alt your varieties 
- of green-and flowery joys! Yeoare allade- 
fert, a barren’ wildernefs, fince Serena bas- 
pt ever left. you. and will.be in iit no» 


Yep can friends do. noite spain ae 
mourner?. Come, my wife friends, furround. 
me and divert my cares with your. agreeable - 
converfation. ‘Can books pattern tg 
Gome, my. books, ye volumes of knox 
ye labours of: the learned dead 3 com il 
up my hours with fome foothing amufe+ 
ment. Iicall my:better friends about meee: 
fly to the-heroes and the- philofophers of’ an- 
cient ages to. employ my. foul amo aaon 
But alas !- neither learning: nor 
me, nor green and {miling prifeliy of nature — 
delight me, nor converfation with: my wifeft 
and beft: friends.can entertain me in:thefe~ 
dark and melancholy hours:» “Solitude, foli--. 
tude in. {ome unfeen. corner, fome | | 
grotto, overgrown with fhades, this: is my 
deareft choice ;. Jet me mes wihies — 


THE BEAUTIES OF DRVWATTS, 2TR 


‘folitude where none “fall come near! me*;: 
midnight and folirude are the moft pleafing ‘ 
things to a man who is weary of day-light . 
and of all the fcenes of this vifible and buf 
world. I would eat ‘and drink and dwell ak 
“Tone,” though this lonefome humour! fooths © 


‘and gratifies the painfalpaffions, and ‘gives. — 


~ me up tothe tyranny of my tharpeft forrows. 
Strange mixture that k am made of! FE 
mourn and’ grieve even to deathyand> yet L 
feem Kr of monies but 2 ief and-mourn 
ing. - 


Woe istne f Te’ there notkinen on poe’ ap 


ean divert, nothing relieve me * Then det 

my thoughts afcend to paradife and heaven, 

there I fhall find her better part; and grief 

muft not enter there... From this hour take: 

a new turn, O my foul, and never think of 
Serena but-as thining and rejoicing’ a hong 

the {pirits of the bleft,. and in the prefence 
“efi her Gods Rife-often in holy: meditation 

to the celeftial world, and betake thyfelf to. 

more intenfe piety. Devotion has wings that 

will bear thee high above the tumults and 

paftions of lower lite : devotion will: dire&. 
and {pted. re fli ght to a country of brighter: 
feenes. 

Shake off this earthllne of wosiidl this dute 
ef mortality that hangs about thee ; rife ups 
_ ward often:in an hour, and dveislirndinads In 
thofe regions whether thy devout partner is 
gone: thy better half is fafely arrived there, 


‘gIe° THE BEAUTIES OF PRAWATTS. 


and that: orem knows. nothing, but joy and. 
love. 

She is gone ;. the prop and the aj e 
tles and Ses beft of ed» fouls. have - 4 
marked out her.way to heavens bare witeel, 
ye apoftles and holy, prophets, ye beft of de-- 
parted fouls bear withefi, that’ Tl am-fecking. 
to tollow her.in the appointed moment. Let 
the wheels of nature yer tume roll on apace: 
in their deftined way... Jet funs and moons. 
arife aad fet apace, and light a-lonefome tra-_ 
veller onward to his home.. Blefled Jefus: !: 
be thoumy living leader !) Virtue; and the. 
track of Serena’s feet:be my daily and detight-- 
ful path. The track.| ward to the re-- 
gions of love and jopy: v can ] dare toe 
wander from the path of virtue leftJ loofe- 
that beloved track ?’ Remember, O my foul,. 
her foot{teps are found in no other toad. ~~ 
_ Hf my love to-virtue fhould ever. fail me, 
the fteps of my Serena would ane 
way, and help to fecure me from wan: mde 
© may the kind influences»of heaven 
cend from above and eftatlith and guard 
ious refolutions ! May the thes. cir 
religion be my: continual ftrength) and the 
hope of eternal things my never-failing-tup -- 
port, till Lam. difmiffed fromethis, prifon. of 
the fieth and called to afgend tohedpirits of: 
the juit made air ron dick adieus to all: 
that isin>t immortal, and go dwell with Gall | 
God.and my adored: Saviour ;. there fhall- 


THE. pe MOT eR OF DR. ‘WATTS. 215 


find my loft Serena, again, and utc with her 

’ the unutterable joys of paradife. . “3 
Here Lucius threwshimfelf ‘on: «the couch: 

and lay filet in profound meditation, ©.” 

» When Florinos had heard all: this mourn- 
ful: rhapfody,; he retired and ftole.away-in fe- 
cret, for he was now utterly afhamed of his. 
firft barbarous defign.: He: felt a» fort of 
' flrange fympathy of forrow, fuch as he never 

knew before, and with it fome fparks of vir- 
tue began to kindle in his bofom. As’ he 
mufed, the fire burat within, andat. laft-it 
made its way to his. lips and -vented: itfelf. 
‘© Well, faid he, E have learnt two excellent: 
 leflons tod Th thall never for* 

‘pet thems. “"Dihere mutt be fome-.vattiand 

* unknown’pleafure in a virtuous! love be 

* yond: all the madnefs of wiid:and tranfient 
 amours ; otherwi(e the lof of the objeé& 
_‘eould never have wrought fuch deep and 
 unfeigned woe'in-a foul fo firm! and-man-. 

“jy as that. of Lucius. I begim now to be» 

 heve owhat -Miltca fang, though I always 

“read the lines pees - as mere. © poely anc 
fable,” ch 

Hail wedded love, myfterious law, irve fource 
Of human offspring, fole propriety: i 2t¥tie >? 
lw Paradife, of all things common elfe.: ae 
By thee adulterous luft was driv'n from mer — 
Among the beftial berds to range: by thea: . 
Founded in reafon, loyal, iyh, and. pute 


214 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. vee 


Relations dear, and a!) the charities 
Of father, fon.and- brother, fir a 
Perpetual fountain of domeftic fweets.' « 
Here love bis golden Soaps loys; bere ghts 
His confant lamp, and waves bis pir ple wing 
Reigns here and revels':. not in the bought | 
Of barlots, lovelefs, joylefs, unindear'd,) ~ 
Cafual amours, mixt dance, or wayton:imafk hs r 
Or veil ball, Sa. in qian’ Sig ps 
et: pe a3 } ade rhe 
a Blefted poet, that could fo.ha ily 
“ love and virtue, and draw fo _beauti 
** fcene of real hint hie ate 


~ 


“« 5 arid Para t while I repeat them so 
‘feel a ftrange new fenfation. Lam» cor 
* vinced the blind poet faw> deer 
‘ture and: truth: hentai 
* ined... Fhere is, there >iss fuck» 
union of virtuous fouls, where bap 
* only ‘found. : find — pme7si 
* facred light rif ing U By 
ae pantings: within a 
® fack-# ife.” 
 Noris the other” sree 
us learnt at all inferior tot tf 
“ is of higher:and more dut tance, — 
« } confefs:fince I was: pobre “yeu old 
* never thought virtue and teligion had.been 
“* good for any. thing, but to. ‘fyeup 


4628 


ter tach apa ti 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 21g 


™ from mifchief, and frighten fools : but now 
“* | find by the condu& of my friend Lucius, 
“that! as the’ fweeteit “and fincerett joys of 
*lifeare derived from virtue, fo the moft 
“ diftreffing forrows may find a juft relief in 
“* religion and fincere piety. Hear me, thou 
** Almighty Maker of my frame, pity and 
“ afiift a returning wanderer, and O may thy 
“« hand ftamp thefe !effons upon my foul.ia 
“* everlafting Characters! = on o-0 + 

34 Aer, POSTHUMOUS WORKS, P. 260. 


4 


pt. oe 
“BILLS OF EXCHANGE! 


. WHEN a rich merchart who dwells. in a 
foreign land afar off, commits his treafure to 
the hands of a banker,-it is to be drawn out 
in {maller fums by his fervants or his friends — 
here at home, as their neceffities thal! require; — 
and he furnifhes them with bills of exchange 
drawn upon his ‘banker cr treafurer, which 
are paid honourably to the perfon who offers 
the bill, according to the time when the 
words of the bill appoint the payment. 
Is 1 not poffitle to draw a beautiful alle- — 
gory hence to reprefent the conduct. of the 
4olcfled God in his promifes of grace, without 
Gebafing fo divine a futject 2 fas GHG 


~ 


216 \:PRE SEAUTIBSOF MEW. aT 


God the Father, the {pring and-fountain. 
of all grace, dwells in regions of light anc hb 
Hinefs inacceffible; too. far.off for us to. con- 
verfe with him or receive fuppli¢s from him 
in an immediate way; but-he has iferit, the 
Son'to dwell in human name, and conftitut- 
ed him treafurer of all his bleffings, that’ we 
-might derive perpetual fupplies from his 
hand : he has intrufted him with all the richy- 
es of grace and glory 5 he:has laid ap infinite 
ftores of love, wildom, ftrength, rdon, peace 
and confolation in the hands pa Son for 
this very purpofe, to be drawn out thence as 
faft as the neceffities of his faints © 
«© It pleafed the Father that in 
« fulnels dwell... He. has req 
*©men.”’ Col. 4. 19. Pfal. Ixviii. 18. 
» Now all the promifes in the Bible, are fo ~ 
many bills of exchange drawn by God the 
Father in heaven, upon his Son Jefus ‘Chrift, 
and payable to every pious bearer ; that is, to 
every one that comes to the mercy-feat and . 
offers the promife for accéptance, and pleads 
at in a way of obedient faich amd prayer. Je- 
fus the high-treafurer of heaven, knows every 
letter of his Father’s hand-writing, and can. 
never be impofed upon by a forged note ; he 
will ever put due honour upon his Father’ 5 
bills ; he accepts them all, for “all theprom- 
 ifes in him are yea, and in him: age Tn. 
him they are all fure “ to the glory oe 3 
Father, 2. Cor. 1, 20+ Tei is for the "Father 


-* ¥ P = = _ Z ¥ 
‘THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 217 


‘ho ‘8 dr that his bills never fil of acceptance 


and payment. 
you apply to the bleffed Jefus and offer. 


him a bill of the largeft fum, a promife of the 
biggelt bleffings, he will never. fay, “1 have 
« not fo much of my Father’s treafure in my 
« ‘hand. For he has received all things.” 


“Febn isi. 35. -“ The Father Joveth the Soa. 


«and hath given ail things into his hand :” 
and may 1 not venture to fy, this whole 
treafure is made over to the faints, < All 
“things are yours,’ 1 Cer. itis 22. .And 


they are “parceiled out into bills of promis 


‘and notes under the Father's hand. So the 
: _whole treafure ofa nation con&Sfts in credit 


“and in promiffory notes, more than in prefent 7 


.fums of gold and filver. 


me, Some of thefe divine bills are payable at 


and we receive the fum as foon as we 


ee the bill ; (viz.) thofe that muft fupply : 


= our prefent wants ; fuch as <‘ call upom 
» “< me in the day of trouble, and I wil ddiv- 
°“ er thee, and thou thalt glorify me.” P/al. 
and there have been many examples 
3 pa ipeedy payment. Pal. cvii.3. “Ia 
_** the day when I cried thou anfweredet me ; - 
z and firengthenedeft me with fizenetham .- 
« * my foul. A 
- Some are only payable i in general at adit 
tant time, and that 1s jcft to the dilcretion of - 


os the treafurer, (viz.) “* As thy day 1s, ~ 
“ be, 


Be Nae Yea Sey ms 
218. THE pEAUTIES OF DR, WATTS? 
«© fo thy ftrength fhall be.” Dent. xxxili. 25. 
and we neéd never fear trufting him long, 
. for this bank in the hands ‘of Chrift can nev- 
er fail ; ** for in him dwelleth all the falnefs 
“< of the Godhead bodily.” Co/. ii. 9. and 
Eph. iii. 8. we are told of “ the unfearcha- 
£* ble riches of Chrift.” 4 Wis 
‘Sometimes Chrift may put us off with a 
cow kind anfwer, or give us a note under 
is hand, payable at demand, in feveral par- 
els inftead of a full payment all at once: 
thus he dealt with his dear friend and fervant 
Paul, in 2 Cor. xii. 9. Doubtlefs Paul in 
his feeking the Lord thrice, for the removal 
of his thorn in the flefh, had pleaded feveraj~ 
Jarge promifes of God, had offered thofe di- 
vine bills to Chrift for acceptance and pay- 
ment ; but inftead of this our Lord gives 1 
him a note under his own hand which ran in | 
this janguage, “‘ My grace is fufficient for 
* thee,” And if we had but the faith which — 
that bleffed apoftle had, w¢ might live upon 
this hope ; this would be.as goodas refent 
payment : for if he delay to give the full” 
dum, it is only becaufe he fees we have notl 
need of it at prefent ; he knows Sal niaeel- 4 
ties better than we ourfelves ; he will not 
fruft us with too much at once in our hands ; 
but he pays us thofe bills when he fees the 
_ fitteft time, and we have often found if fo, < 
. and confeffed his faithfnlnefs, ~~ me 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 2Irg¢ 


_ At other times he pays us, but not in the 
. fame kind of mercy which is mentioned in 
the promife, yet in fomething more ufeful 
and valuable. If the promife mentions a 
‘temporal bieffing, he may give us a {piritual 
one ; if it exprefs eafe, he may give patience = 
and thus his Father’s bills are always honour~ _ 
ed, and we have no reafon to complain. So 
the banker may difcharge a bill of a hundred 
- pound not with money, but with fach goods 
and merchandize as may yield us two hun- 
dred, and we gladly confefs the bill is well 
paid. 

Some of thefe promifes,. thefe bills of neay- 
enly treafure, are not made payable till the 
hour of our death,*as, ‘* Blefled are thofe fer- | 
** vants whom when the Lord comes he fhall 

~*¢ find watching,” &c. Luke xii. 37. “-He 
. * that endureth to the end the fame fhall be 
* faved.” Maif. xxiv. 13. “ Be thou faich- 
“ ful to the death, and I will give thee a crown 
« of life.” Rev. i. 10. 
Others are not due till the day of the ref- 
_urrection ; as, ‘* Fhem who fleep in Jefus 
*< will God bring with him.” 1 Theff iv..14:- 
* J will redeem them from death.” Hof xiii. 
14, Col. ic 4. “ When Chnft whe is our 
“ life fhall appear, then. fhall ve aifo appear 
“with him in glory.” Pbi/. ili. 20, 21. 
“« He fhall change our vile body, that it may 
be fafhioned like unte his glorious body.” 
x Pet. vy. 1, 4. “ And when the chief Shep 


s : NGL 5 


220 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. ‘WaTTs. 


« herd fhall appear, ye fhall ietictve a crown 
“ of glory that fadeth not away? 99 
Now when the great day thall come, ins 
which our Lord Jefus‘Chrift fhall give up 
his mediatorial kingdom to the Father, and 
render an account of all his ftewardthip, how 
fair will bis books appear! How- juft a bal- 
ance will {tand at the foot of all his aecounts 
Then fhall he fhew in what manner he has 
fulfilled the promifes to the faints, and pre- 
fent to the Father all the bills that he has re- 
ceived and difcharged ; while all the faints 
fhall with one voice atteft it, to the honour. 
of the hi eh treafurer- -of heavens that’ he has 
not failed in payment even fo the orig 
. farthing. . 


rosTHUNOUS WORKS, P. 1 ca 


 PHE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 221 


BP Qh Be oy, 


DIVINE JUDGMENTS 


¥ 
WOT from the duft my forrows fpring, be 
‘Nor drop my comforts from the lower skies = 
Let all the baneful planets fhed 
Their mingled curfes on my head. 
How-vain their cuvfes, if th’ Eternal King 
Look thro” the clouds and blefs me with his eyes; 
Creatures with all: their boafted fway 
~ Are but his flaves, and muft obey 5 
They wait their orders from above, 
And execute his word, the vengeance, orthe love. - . . 
If. 2 Lenn 
>Tis by a watrant from his hand ‘\ 
The gentler gales are bound to fleep : - 
The North wind blufters, and affumes command 1 
Over the defert and the deep ; Alia 
Old Boreas with his freezing pow’rs. 
Turns the earth iron, makes the ocean glafs, - > 
Arrefts the dancing riv’lets as. they pafs, 
And chains them movelefs to their fhores + : 
The grazing ox lows to the gelid fkies, . 
"Walks o'er the marble meads with withering eyes, - so 
Walks o'er the folid-lakes, fauff¥ up the wind, and dies,-. 


us 4 ti 2 Be. 


Fly to the polar world, my fong, _ Tha 2 
And mourn the pilgrims there, (a wretched throng fy Ay 


. Seized ant bound in sigid chains, 


A troop of ftatues on the Ruffian plainsy __ be NS u ; 


And life ftands frozen in the purple veins; 9 

Atheift, forbear ; “no more blafpheme ¢: © 
God has a thoufand terrors in his names , 

v4 thoufand armies at command, 
Waiting the fignal of his Hand; , 

Aad magazines of froft, and magazines of flame. ~ 
, Drefs thee ia feel to meet his wrath 5 Marat 
His fharp artillery from the North Pee 


Shall pierce thee'to the foul, and thake Be mortal frases 


Subliie on Winter’s rugged wings 
He rides in arms along the fkyy 


And fcatters fate on fwains and kings 5 + rf ea’ 2 


And flocks and herds, and: nations die 5 - 
While impious lips, profanely bold, -  r 
Crow pale ; and, quivering at his dreadful cold, - 
Give their own blafphemies the lie. . ne 
IV, ; Sih d fi 
The mifchiefs that infeft the earthy, 


- ‘When the hot dog-ftar fires the realms on high, — er 


Drought and difeafe, and cruel dearth, 
Are but the flathes of a wrathful eye 


From,the incens*d’ divinity. ‘ fi: 3 


An vain our parching palates thirft, . 
“Por vital food in vain we crys 
And pant for vital breath 5 
The verdant fields are burnt to duft,* 
‘The fun has drunk the channels dry, - ts 
And all the ais is death, ; 


‘THE ‘BEAUTIES: ‘OR DRw WATTS.. 


ig feourges of our Maker’s a: 
*Tis at his dread command, at his imperial nod 
"You deal your various plagues abroad. 
‘Y.z 
Hail, whirlwinds, hurricanes and floods 
That all the leafy ftandards ftrip, 
And bear down with a mighty fweep  - 
The riches of the fields, and honours of the woods 5-5 
” Storms, that ravage o’er the deep; 
And bury millions in the waves ;~ 
Waly ah that in midnight. ies 


While you difpenfeyour mortal harms, 
“Tis the Creator's voice that founds your loud alarms, 
When guilt with louder ¢ries provokes a God to arms... 


Vi 


_ © fora meffage from above 
To bear my fpirits up-! < 
Some pledge of my Creator’s love 
To calm my terrors and fupport my hope + 
Let waves and thunders mix and roar, . 
Be thou my God, and the whole world is ‘mine? - 
_ While thou art Sovereign, I'm fecure 3 . 
I ‘hall be rich till thou art poor 5 - 


> 
223 


For all I.fear, and all J ee heav’n, earth.and hell are thiae - 


224 THE BEAUTIES OF DROWATTS, 


~ 


THE UNIVERSAL HALLELUJAR 


PSALM CXLVIIT PARAPHRAS’D, 


PRAISE ye the Lord with joyful tongues; 
Ye pow’rs that guard his throne ; ~ 
Jefus the man fhall lead the fongy. 
The God infpire the tunes 
: on. jeans Ek errs 
Gabriel, and all the itamortal choig= * 
That fill the realms above, ~~ "91" 
Sing ; for he form’d you of his fire;:. 
And feeds you -with his love. 
TIl. - 
Shine to his praife, ye crt hi 
The floor of his abodey* - : 
©r veil your little ening 
Before a brighter God. . c 
Iv. 
Thou reftlefs globe of golden light, . 
Whofe beams create our days, ? 
‘ Join with the filver queen of night>, 
To own your borrowed rays.. 
bh ae 
Blufh and refund the honours paid ! 
To your inferior names : 
Tell the blind world your orbs are fed * 
By his o’esflowing flames, ; 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR.WATTS, 225 


; Ee re 
Winds, ye fhall bear his name aloud 
Thro’ the ethereal blue,~ 
For when his chariot is a cloud; 
He makes his wheels of you. 
VIL. 
Thunder and hail, and fires and ftorms, ne 
The troops of his command, , 
Appear in all your dreadful forms 
And fpeak his awful hand. ., .. 


‘Shout to the Lord, ye furging feasy . 
In your eternal roar 5 

Let wave to wave refound his praife, 
And fhore reply to fhore. 

IX. 

While monfters {porting on the floot, . 
In fcaly filver fhine, tea 

Speak terribly their maker Gody. = 
And lafh the foaming brine. 

Soe eae 8 

‘But gentler things thall tune his name, 
To fofter notes than thefe, 

Young zephyrs breathing’o’er the-ftream, * 

- Or whifpering thro’ the trees, 

‘Wave your tall heads, ye lofty pines, 

- To. him that bid ye grow, 

Sweet clufters bend the fruitful vines, 
Qn every thankful bough. 

i eee 
Let the thrill birds his honour vaife, 
* Andclimb the morning ky, 


Sy es 


226 


’ 


.». 


& 


JHE ‘BEAUTIES OF DR. gS: 


While groveling beafts attempt his prai Nay. 


In hoarfer harmony. 


XII... Sif : : mM eh ‘ ‘ 


Thus while the meaner.creatures fing; ~ 


. Ye mortals take the found, 


Echo the glories of your king 
Thro’ all the nations round. 


; Pe Ree, 


Th’ Evernal name muft fly abroad: 


From Britain to Japan 5~ 


a 


And the whole race thall bow to God,. 


That owns:the name of man:. 


THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 


ATTEMPTED IN 2NGLISH SAPPHIC: | 


vier 


aiatt La aa 


tee ose 


a 86 Bee 


- 
‘ 


Z 


WHEN the fiercé North wind with his airy forces , 


Rears up the Baltic toa foaming fury 5 H 


~& 


And the red lightning, with’ aftorm of-hail ‘comes 


‘ As 


How the poor failors {tand amaz’d and tremble! ‘ * 
While the hoarfe thunder, like a bloody trumpet, - ¥4 


Roars a loud onfet to the gaping waters 


ge 


- 


’ Ruthing amaia down, 


Wisk wa devour them 


i 
r 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. £27 
eg sai! ie 

Such thall-the noife be, and the wild diforder, 

(If things eternal may be like thefe earthly) © 

‘Such the dire terror when the great archangel : 
v, ; ‘Shakes the Creation 5 


; Bee aa 
“Tears the ftrong pillars of the vault of heaven, 
’ Breaks up old marble, the repofe of princes 5 


‘See the graves open and the bones arifing, : 
Ssiames all pani “ertte 


ges 

°° “Fark, the thrill outcries of the guilty wretches’! 

Lively bright horror, and amazing anguith; 

Stare thro’ their eye-lids, while the living -worm lies 
Hem’ Gnawing within them. 

ge Va sys) a 

‘Thought, like old vultures, prey upon their heart-ftrings, 

And the fmart twinges, when the eye beholds the 


‘Lofty Judge Somnings and a flood of vengeance 
Rolling before him. 


Vit. 
Hopelefs immortals ! ‘how they fcredm and fhiver, 
While devils-pufh them tothe pit wide-yawaing 


~ $Hideous and gloomy to receive them headlong 
: Down to the centes, 
VIIT. . 
Stop here, my fancy : (all away, ye horrid 
Woleful ideas, ) come-arife to Jefus 
Sow he fits God-like ! and the Gaints around him 


Thrén’d, yet adoring? 


bed ‘ : re. 
Ets Se ae } 
“ at B 
. , a 4 3 i 
oh ee 7 y i 
228 THE BEAUTIES OF DR« WATTS. = 
ae 4 hs 4 fs * : A] 
1x fa es 
O may I fit there when he comes triumphant, SF es 
Dooming the nations ! then afcend to glory, 


While our hofannas all along the paflage - 
Shout the slshineties 


FIRE, AIR, EARTH AND SEA, PRAISE YE 


THE LORD. 
i I. : x “ 
EARTH, thou great footftool of our God i 


Who reigns on high ; thou fruitful fource 
Of all our raiment life and food 5" 


as 
Our houfe, ur. parent, and our nurfe ; 
Mighty ftage of mortal feenes, : 
Dreft with ftrong and gay machiness! ft 


Hung with golden lamps around 3. 5 - VES nfs 
{And flow’ry carpets fpread the ground) we tf 
Thou bulky globe, prodigious mats, 


‘That hangs unpillar’d in an empty fpace ! 

While thy Uhweilded weight refs on the feeble airs, > it. 

Elefs that Almighty word that fix’d and holds thee there. 

Il. Ee eae a 

Fire, thou fwift herald of his face, © ‘ nn 
Whofe glorious rage, at his command, 
Levelsa palace with the fand, . 

Blending the lofty {pires in ruin with the hafe 5 i 
Ye heav’nly flames, that finge the airy 
Artillery of a jealous God, 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 229 — 


Bright arrows that founding quivers beat 
To featter deaths abroad 5 
Light’nings, adore the fovereign arm.that flings — 
His wengeance, and your fires, wpon the head of Kings. 
Hil. 
Thou vital clement, the air, 
Whofe boundlefs magazines of breath 
@ur fainting flame of life repair, ; 
And fave the bubble man from the cola arms of deaths - 
And ye, whofe vital moifture yields 
—Life’s purple fiveam a‘freth fupply 5 
Sweet waters wand’ring’ thro’ the flow’ry fields, 
Os dropping from the fy ; ° 
Confefs the pow’r whofe all-fufficient name 
‘Nof needs your aid to build, or to fupport our frame. 
¥ , Iv. 
acon the rade air, with noify force, 
Beats up and fwells the angry fea, 
‘They join to make our lives a prey, 
And fweep the failor’s hopes away. ~ x 
"Vain hopes, to reach their kindred onthe fhores $ 
Lo, the wild feas and farging waves 
Gape hideous in a thoufand graves 
Be till, ye floods, and know your bounds of fand, 
Ye ftorms, adore; your Mafter’s hand ; ‘ 
‘The windsare in his fit, the waves at his command, 
v v. 
iF ‘rom the eternal emptinefs ‘3 = 
_ His fruitful word by fecret fprings_ 
Drew the whole harmony of things 
That form this noble univerfe : 
7 Old nothing Irnew his pow’rful hand, 
“Scarce had he fpoke his fall command; 


And ftill they dance, and SE yt ras AR Ny 
‘ 


The orders they receiv’d the ee cele Tas 


ie 


Po ele 


LAUNCHING INTO: ETERNITY. ; 


he 


IT wasa brave attempt ! 7 adventurous sa? i 
‘Who in the firft fhip broke the unknown fa 
And leaving his dear native fhores behind, _ “See 
Trufted his life to the licentious. wind. oe ee i % 
I fee the furging brine : the tempeft raves ear i > 
He ona pine-plank rides acrofs the waves, NE he, 
Exulting on the edge of thoufand gaping AES: 
He fteers the winged boat, and pashan - 
Conquers the flood, and | manages the gales. 
Such is the foul that leaves this mortal ae 
Fearlefs when the great Mafter gives penanen 
Death i is the ftorm : fhe fmiles to hear it roary 


*. is And bids ee tempeft wilecches from the fhore: oy : 
‘ "Then with a fkilful helm the fweeps’ the feasy Ripttets 9 aft 9 

BAR As es code SE a . i toa 

: 


ec Her faith can govern death”) the. fee wage 
“Wide to the wind, and as the fails the fings, Oa 
And lofes by degrees the fight of mortal things. ~ 
As the fhores leffen, fo her joys arife, ned od 

_. ‘The wayes roll aes, and the tempeft fiety ; 


She- floats ‘on the broad deep with inf 
The feas forev er calm, the skies ; 


4 


-;* / 


YHE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 23% 


‘ 


BREATHING TOWARD THE HEAVENLY COUNTRY- 


CASIMIRE, BOOK 1. OD. 19, IMITATED- 


Urit me Patria Decor, Ge 


THE beauty of my native land 
Immoral love infpires 5 . 
I burn, I burn with ftrong defires, 
And figh, and wait the high command. 
‘There glides the moon her thining way 
And thoots my heart thro” with a filver ray 
Upward my heart afpires’:' * 
A thoufand lamps of golien light 
Hung highin vaulted azure charm my fight, 
And wink and beckon with their amorous fires, 
@ ye fair glories of my heav’nly home, 
Bright centinels who guard my Father’s court, 
Where all the happy minds refort,” - 
When will my Father’s‘chariot come? 


Mutt ye for ever walk the.ethereal round}, 
For ever fee the mourner lie. # 
An exile of the fky, : a 
A prifoner of the ground ? BR 
Defcend fome fhining fern! from gn high;- $ 
Build me a hafty tomb ; 
A grafly turf will raife my head 5 
The neighbouring lillies drefs my bed,- 
And thed a {weet perfume. 3: ie 
'~ Here I put off the chains of death’ NT 
My foul too Jong has worn :' Poa ei 


, 


232 THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


Friends, I forbid one groaning breath, 

Or tear to wet my urn 5 - : 4 
Raphael, behold me all undrefty = =a 
Here gently lay this flefh to reft + 
Then mount and lead the path unknown, : 

' Swift I purfue thee, flaming guide, on pinions of my own 


1 


CONVERSE WITH CHRIST. 
I. 


3M tir'd with vifits, modes, and forms, Y ra 
And flatt’ries made to fellow-worms > ory | 
Their conyerfation cloys 54405 \ “¥ 
Their vain amours and empty tuff: > 
But Ican ne’er enjoy enough 
Of thy beft company, my Lord, thou life’ of a my. joys. 
If. 
When he begins to'tell his loveg 4 
Thro” every vein my paffions movey . 
The captives of his tongue + 
In midnight thadess,on frofty ground, 
I could attend the pleafing found, aes 
Nor fhould I. feel December cold, nor think the pS a 
a) ae 
There while I hear my Saviour-God 
€ount o'er the fins. (a heavy lead ') 2 


\ 


He bore upon the tree, 
Inward I bluth with fecret thame, 
And weep, and love, and blefs the mame ; 
That knew nor guilt nor grief his own, but bare it all fot we. 


ee as 
yes 
ae os 


ven 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 233 


Survey the bufy emmets round the heap, 
Crouding and buftling in a thoufand forms 
Of ftrife and toil to purchafe wealth and fame, 
A bubble ora duft : then caltthy thoughts 
Up to thyfelf to feed on joys unknown, 

Rich without gold, and great without renown. 


FEW HAPPY; MATCHES. 
Augift 19701, 
SAY, mighty love, and teach my fot 2 aes 
To whom thy fweetet j joys belong, a state : ‘ so 
And who the happy pairs “BA 4 : . 
Whofe yielding hearts, and joining has Ds 
Find bleffi ings twifted with their wae 
To foften all their cares. . 
Not the wild herd of nymphs and fwains 
That thoughtlefs fly into the tae 
As cuftom leads the way : ‘ 
If there he blifs without defign, 
Tvies and oaks may grow and twine, 
And be as bleft as they. : 
< spe iy 
Not ferdid fouls of earthly mold 
Who drawn by kindred charms of gold 
To dull embraces move : 


os 


THE BEAUTIES OF DR. WATTS. 


So two rich mountains of Peru 
May ruth to wealthy marriage too,- 
And make a world of lovee: 
IV. J 
Not the mad tribe that’ hell infpires” 
With wanton flames ; thofe raging fires’ 
The purer biifs deftroy : 
On Ztna’s top let furies wed, ‘ 
And fheets of light’ning dref2 the bed ~ 
T’ improve the burning joy- 
ae 
Not the dull pairs whofe marble forms 
None of the melting paffions warms, 
Can mingle hearts and hands : 
Logs of green wood that quench the coals 
And marry’d juft like Stoic fouls, 
‘With ofiers for their bands. 
Vi 
Not minds of melancholy ftrain,, 
Still filent, or that {till complain, 
Can the dear bondage blefs : 
As well may heavenly concerts {pring 
From too old loots with ne’er a'iftring, 
Or none befide the bafs. 
VII. 
Nor can the foft enchantments hold. 
Two jarring fouls of angry mold, 
The riigged and the keen: 
Sampfon’s young foxes might as well: 
Jn bands of cheerful wedlock dwell, 
With Girebrands ty’d between. 


~ 


VIII. 
_ “Nor Tet the cryel fetters bind _ 
; A gentle to a favage mind, 
For love abhors the fight : 
“Loofe the fierce tyger from the deer, 
For native rage and native fear 
“Rife and forbid delight. - 
eee v. TE 
sty ‘Twa kindeft fouls alone muft meet, 
Tis friendfhip makes the bondage fweet, 
And feeds their mutual loves : 
Bright Venus on her rolling throne 
As drawn by gentleft ‘birds alone 
And Cupids yoke the doves.* 


tinal Thefe poems are feletted from Hore Lyrica : : or Poems ie of 
~ gbe Lyric kind, 


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Form 335—40M—6-39—S 


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